The Power of The Father Connection – By Thomas J. Koester

Never underestimate the power, authority, and security of a father’s connection. There is nothing on earth that can take its place.

Since time began, power was, and is, the principal motivator of life. Whoever wields power has control, authority, and security. If you think about it, these three things are essential for just about any group of people. In fact, they are essential for a healthy family.

This is why family is so important. It is the very fabric that holds society together.

Whether you agree or not, God instituted family. He derived the construct from his trinitary-self of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Father, wife, and child are by design, God’s reflective image of himself into creation.

God first creates man, then woman, then from their union, offspring. God shares with man his power, giving him control, authority, and security. He places man in the center of paradise and says you tend it, cultivate it, rule over it, and honor its boundaries (security).

Fundamentally, our identity, personhood, and security come from our families and principally from our fathers. The most primal and significant connection we can have on earth begins with our fathers. It’s not an option—it’s foundational!

This is why fatherhood is under such terrible assault. It is the most strategic and essential part of God’s design and image. Destroy the image of fathers, and you destroy the image of Father-God. Turn the children from their fathers, and you’ll frustrate and hinder children from finding their Heavenly Father.

When fathers and children turn away from each other, the family crumbles. When this becomes the norm, marriages crumble, and children become aimless and disenfranchised from the safety of paternal authority, control, and security. They become targets of destructive philosophies, ideologies, and influences.

The following is an excellent portrayal of the destructive force against fathers and family:

In the 1991 Movie “Hook,” starring Dustin Hoffman as Captain Hook, Robbin Williams as Peter Banning (Peter Pan), and Charlie Korsmo as Jack Banning, Peter’s son; an interesting scene takes place between Captain Hook and little Jack Banning:

Hook: Such a pretty, pretty…. … What is that I hear? A ticking. Smee, stop the ticking! Stop that! Stop that “tick-tick”!

Smee: There’s no ticking here. There’s nothing left to tick.

Hook: This is for the ticking that might have been. Get his father’s watch!

Smee: Right.

Hook: Go on. You know you want to. Give it a try. Go on.

Jack: This is for..never letting me blow bubbles in my chocolate milk!

[he smashes his dad’s watch]

Smee: Yes!

Hook: Ha ha! Good form! Bravo!

Smee: There you go! Isn’t that wonderful?

Jack: This is for never letting me jump on my own bed.

[Jack smashes the watch again]

Hook: Make time stand still, laddie.

Jack: For always making promises and breaking them! For never doing anything with me.

[ Once again, Jack smashes the watch]

Hook: For a father who’s never there, Jack. Jack, for a father who didn’t save you on the ship.

Jack: [Sadly] Who wouldn’t save us….

Hook: Who couldn’t save you, Jack.

Jack: He wouldn’t. He didn’t even try. He was there, we were there, and he wouldn’t try.

Hook: Jack, he will try. And the question will be: When the time comes, do you want to be saved? Now, don’t you answer now. No, no, no, no. Now it’s time to be whatever you want to be. Put behind you any thoughts of home…that place of broken promises.

Jack: That what?

Hook: Have I ever made a promise, Jack… … I have not kept? Have I, son?

Did you read how the evil Hook exploits Jack’s wounds? Then Hook belittles his father, even to the point of “when the time comes, Jack, do you want to be saved?”

Hook continues, stealing the boy’s identity:

“…Now it’s time to be whatever you want to be. Put behind you any thoughts of home… … that place of broken promises.”

Not only does Hook steal the boy’s identity, he sinisterly robs him of his sense of belonging and then mischaracterizes Jack’s home “as a place of broken promises.”

Hook tops it off by reidentifying Jack as “his son.” He strikes Jack’s wound at the center of his heart, reminding Jack that his dad is weak, a liar, and a man of broken promises.

“Hook: Have I ever made a promise, Jack… … I have not kept? – Have I, son?”

I truly believe that this clever and well-written movie accurately illustrates how evil destroys fathers, families, children, and homes.

In the last book of the Old Testament, the last chapter and the last two verses read:

“Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives. His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.” Malachi 4:5-6

The fulfillment of this Malachi prophecy occurs in the First Chapter of Luke 1:17. John The Baptist prepared the way for Jesus Christ, whose mission was to redeem the lost sons of Adam.

When fathers and children remain estranged and God’s salvation is averted, the land, culture, and society become cursed. It is undeniable that our land, America, has been cursed.

Fathers, do whatever it takes to connect with your kids. Kids, do whatever it takes to connect with your fathers.

Sometimes, taking up our father’s interest in sports, hobbies, etc., is the only way we can connect with our fathers. His pastime becomes ours, and maybe the only bridge on earth to reach him and spend time with him.

However, I’d rather see fathers turn their hearts towards their children, enter their world, and connect with their likes.

The hearts of the fathers must initiate a turning back to their children, or there’s little hope for society, and maybe your family, too. Their best hope of connecting to God is their connecting with dad!

Fathers, your legacy is at risk – worse, your children’s future and eternity are at stake.

Never underestimate the power, authority, and security of a father’s role and his connection. There is nothing on earth that can take its place!

When Truth is Lost Love is Lost – By Thomas J. Koester

If you fight for Truth, you’re fighting for love, too.

Evil is most dangerous, not when it hides in obscurity, but when it is plainly flaunted; when it dances in the light and no one seems to care.

Society and culture is most dangerous when Truth is expunged from all sectors of education, authority, and governments.

You see, Truth isn’t toppled over night, that’s both impossible and impractical. Rather, Truth is slowly dismantled over time, through intentual gradualisim; through political and philosophical progressivism. What We see and understand as new philosophies, such as “wokeism,” “equity,” and “inclusion,” are ingeniously designed philosophies to deconstruct Truth.

Why? Why deconstruct Truth?

Because Truth is synonymous with freedom. Freedom is synonymous with self-governance and self-governance means small and limited government. Truth is our protection against tyrannical and demonic despots and a government that seeks to become our master.

This is why we must never cease our Love for Truth. If Truth is lost, Love is lost!

As Martin Luther King Jr. has once said:

“Darkness can not drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate can not drive out hate; only love can do that.”

When evil that has been exposed by light and is darkened by our indifference, then even love has little hope of driving out hate.

Our society has completely flipped. What was once evil has become good, and what was once good has become evil. How about Harrison Butker, of the Kansas City Chiefs’ placekicker, and his amazing commencement address at Benedictine College on May 11, 2024? Everything which he addressed was bedrock truth. But he’s being attacked for insensitivity and for espousing hate speech. “Hate speech” is the new label for what used to be sound, biblical, and historical truth. This lable has, unfortunately, become the “new norm.”

Vladimir Lenin was a Russian communist revolutionary, politician, and political theorist. He clearly understood how to change truth into lies and lies into truth.

“Give me four years to teach the children, and the seed I have sown will never be uprooted.” Vladimir Lenin – April 22, 1870 – January 21, 1924

And so, truth becomes lost to our children, as does the meaning of love.

Sex is no longer the act of consummating marriage but is an uncommitted, casual contact between two, maybe three or more humans. Sex has become merely a recreational act and is void of meaning, truthfulness, and love. When truth, and the consequences of ones actions have been removed, so also is the true meaning of love removed from relationships, our families, communities; all the way to the highest offices of the land.

Femininity and masculinity have been redefined away from historical and cultural norms. Your chromosomal makeup at conception and birth no longer conceals the truth of your sexuality. Really? The “new truth” says your sexuality is a choice, a mere preference. Or, you can simply decide to be non-binary without sexual identity. These “new truths” are becoming enshrined as new norms and therefore protected by anti-discrimination laws.

Ralph Keyes, a notable author and speaker, has said in his book, The Post-Truth Era: Dishonesty and Deception in Contemporary Life:

“We are living in a post-truth era.”

He further writes:

“… This is post-truth. In the post-truth era, borders blur between truth and lies, honesty and dishonesty, fiction, and nonfiction. Deceiving others becomes a challenge, a game, and ultimately a habit. Research suggests that the average American tells lies on a daily basis. These fibs run the gamut from “I like sushi,” to “I love you.”

There is no more denying the fact that 85 to 90 percent of America’s News Agencies are no longer after truth, but salacious morsels of lies, misstatements, innuendos, rumors and gossip, all of which are used to create and shape stories or events. This propels politicians or ideologies towards unpopular agendas that we all allow to become law, and not necessarily in favor of the Republic, nor its political, economical or educational future.

Facts, truth, and context are ingredients that are purposely left out of important stories, as truth may become too damaging or too politically incorrect, or it may be too offensive. Ideology has become more important than truth. Hate, not love, is purposely weaponized to move agendas that are void of common sense and common decency. Love, honor, and respect are nowhere in sight and are replaced with lies and cover-ups.

So, out of “sensitivity,” we lie. For the sake of political ambition, we lie. For the sake of legislation, we lie. For the sake of “National Security,” we lie. We lie and lie about all these significant national and societal changing events.

For example, legislation that delivers health insurance for the uninsured, but then impacts those with health insurance, which in turn causes them to lose the insurance due to cost. And, their doctor? Well, he had to take an early retirement due to oppressive regulations and a reduction in pay.

This happened under the guise of “truth” and “fairness.” The politicians used lies to force an “Affordable” Healthcare Care system, which, by design, became an unaffordable healthcare system that would eventually force us all into a single-payer system of socialized redistributive medical services.

The Bible says, in Mathew chapter 5, verse 37:

“Let your yes mean yes, and your no mean no. Anything more than this comes from the evil one.”

So, in matters of oaths and speaking truth, if we say yes, but mean no, or say no, but mean yes, our words come from the evil one – from the dark side.

We are all capable of lying. But,when a society accepts lies and miss-truths from its leadership, tenured educators, politicians and news outlets and cable networks, the whole of our culture and society follows suit, and we then become a Nation of liars and therefore become enslaved to lies. Lies leads people to slavery and not freedom. Lies leave us uninformed.

A notable politician and former presidential candidate has said:

“We want people to be uniformed but compliant.”

… Hmm, uninformed? … Compliant?

… In other words, politicians want us, no, they demand that we accept lies and ignore truth, and if we become “compliant,” we shall have peace. People, this is straight from the Father of Lies!

You see, when truth can no longer be tolerated or is too politically insensitive, we allow ourselves to become uninformed. And, if uninformed, we then become compliant, as there are no boundaries between truth and lies. No more ethical “black and white” as everything becomes gray and meaningless.

Relativism is replacing realism. Reality TV is actually un-reality TV, portraying and selling itself as the new norm, as the “new truth.”

When truth is lost, love is lost. Because love, real love, requires truth. Real love is colorful, not gray, and sadly, the days are becoming more and more gray.

To be uninformed and compliant is the definition of slavery. For you become a slave to whatever and whomever has mastered you.

If you fight for Truth, you’re fighting for Love, too.

Truth or Lies?

The choice is yours. Choose Truth, and Love wins also.

The False Prophets of The Political Left – By Thomas J. Koester

If you listen to a lie long enough, it unfortunately will replace truth.

Balaam was an authentic Old Testament prophet of God. However, he was a greedy prophet who was approached by the King of the Moabites. The king greatly feared the Israelites and offered Balaam a great deal of money to curse Moses and the Israelite people. – Numbers, chapters 21-25

So, Balaam tried several times to curse Moses and God’s people.

Each time Balaam intended to proclaim a curse, he could only bless God’s people. So the king grew tired and fired the wayward prophet.

Balaam went home defeated and unpaid.

Balaam, still determined to please the Moabite King, thought of a way to curse God’s people. He decided to make a new deal with the King. He told the King that while God prevented him from declaring a curse and instead only a blessing, he thought of a way to get God’s people to sin. He further explained that God would remove his protection from his people, making the Israelites vulnerable to attack.

So the Moabite King agreed, and the King sent in his prostitutes and idolaters.

The prostitutes slept with the men of Israel, and the women purchased the idols and began worshiping the gods of Moab. God saw from Heaven the sin in the camp of Israel. He, therefore, removed his blessing of protection, and so the people started to die.

People, this is happening right now through Biden’s executive orders and the intentions of the House leaders. Their wokeism and Leftist ideologies are inciting America to sin so that God’s blessings and protection will be removed. They are getting Americans to kill their unborn. The killing of its elderly, the perversion of justice, and the protection of pedophiles. We have tolerated the appointment of evil people to political positions and woke judges and DAs.

We are currently witnessing the politicisation of our judicial system and the rise of a new and dangerous terminology called “lawfare.” This new form of warfare is against America’s own citizens and political enemies of the far Left, using the courts to silence political detractors and so destroy justice.

Like the old prophet Balaam, these godless politicians worship power and money. They promote the advancement of Communism and Marxism. The destruction of our religious liberties and the indoctrination and perversion of our children.

The sins of America are causing God to remove His blessing, and His divine protection is lessening day by day.

We need our Pastors and Priests to be like Arron’s grandson, Phinehas, who acted with great zeal and reverence before the Lord. Phinehas acted while Moses and Arron talked about a solution rather than doing something. God was, therefore, pleased with Arron’s grandson, and so God stopped the death of His people, defeating the conspiracy of the King of Moab and the greedy prophet’s scheme.

“The Lord spoke to Moses, Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back My wrath from the Israelites because he was zealous among them with My zeal, so that I did not destroy the Israelites in my anger.” – Numbers 25: 10-11

We must stand against our day’s evil with great passion and zeal before the Lord. Instead, the past stolen election and national lockdown showed the Lord and the enemies of America that the American people do not have the passion and zeal to stop the advancement of evil and darkness.

Child pornography, child sex trafficking, and abortion haven’t caused a scintilla of righteous indignation of God’s people to the point of overwhelming action and response.

We are gutless people, and therefore, America will be gutted. The gutting of truth. The gutting of justice. The gutting of dignity. The gutting of prosperity. The gutting of fairness and the gutting of our liberties. God will not be mocked. Therefore, He is allowing America to become a mockery to the world!

Saints of God, stand your ground! Preach the Gospel of the Kingdom. Become the light of Christ. Be the salt of the earth. Be bold in your faith and obedience to Christ our King.

Patriots, Defend the Constitution. Stand up against tyranny, the cruel and oppressive rule of the Left. Push back against the Progressives. Support your godly and righteous representatives.

If we do not stand up for our faith and freedoms, we will surely fall as a nation, and great will its fall be!

Stop listening to the false prophets of the political left. Reject the false religion of wokeism.

Why We Have A Biden/Harris Administration – By Thomas J. Koester

Kings, Queens, and Presidents are not the people’s choice but God’s decision.

Historical events, like the Biden/Harris presidency, always begin on a spiritual level before we see these things in the physical.

Jesus, knowing the origin of divine governance, taught his disciples to pray in an orderly way:

“… thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it exists in Heaven.” – Matthew 6:10

God’s will and purpose always begin in Heaven before it happens here, on earth.

God moves the hearts of Kings, Queens, and Presidents by his own will and counsel. Throughout history, especially biblical history, it was not unusual for God to allow evil rulers to discipline his people and to use them to drive his people back to himself.

Do you think God is pleased with over 44,000 denominations or fractures within Christianity?

The valid but unfortunate question is, why does the Kingdom of Darkness enjoy near-perfect unity while Christianity and conservatism are woefully fragmented?

Wickedness faithfully coalesces around the satanic. But in Christianity, we can’t even agree on the operation and ministry of the Holy Spirit. We are fractured about whether the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are relevant today. We are fractured over the importance of theological intellectualism vs. trusting in the Holy Spirit as Guide and Teacher. We are fractured because many churches have exchanged sound biblical truth for relativism and for wrongfully dividing Scripture into categories of negotiable and non-negotiable truths.

Shouldn’t godly righteousness coalesce around unity in faith, belief, and in sound biblical doctrine? We’re not all listening and obeying the only Holy Spirit of Truth. If we were, we’d have perfect unity, surpassing that of the wicked.

Furthermore, mainstream Christianity believes that the Kingdom of God and the rule and reign of Jesus Christ are futuristic. What if they are wrong? What if all this time, we’ve rejected the reigning King Jesus within the hearts and minds of his people?

I think the Futurist’s, people who don’t believe in the present Kingdom of Heaven, are why there is such a lack of Christian unity and national righteousness. If you don’t believe in the rule and reign of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, then you’ll willingly subjugate the church to secular democratic rule, and allow the State to reign over the church.

So not only have we insulted the Holy Spirit, but we’ve also said, based on our actions and false beliefs, “This King shall not reign over us!”

“… But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this king to reign over us!”– Luke 19:14

Christianity, as much, if not more so than Republicanism, is overrun and overruled by elitism and infiltrated with secular minded progressives. This is not by accident but by satanic design.

The corruption of Christianity and our lack of unity can be boiled down to unfaithfulness to God and Scripture and to the ill-treatment of the person and role of the Holy Spirit.

Furthermore, our worship of the anointing rather than to whom the Anointer points has caused many to fall into the worship of demons.

All of this is why our country, and for that matter, all free nations, fall under Marxist-Socialism.

Christianity has willingly abdicated most of its authority and mission to the State, in exchange for a 501(c)(3) tax break!

Is it possible that God just might be allowing a Biden/Harris administration to expose the false Church and to accentuate the purity and honor of His true Church?

You can be sure that God’s plan is to restore, although he may tear down first.

As Jill Phillips, a singer-songwriter, has penned in her song, “Wrecking Ball,”

“… God is both the builder and the wrecking ball.”

And this may be why we have a Biden/Harris administration.

The Great Reversal – By Thomas J. Koester

Fascism is the absence of common sense and is designed to exploit common decency until the indecent rules everything.

Isn’t that the exact reverse of normalcy? Our society and culture being ruled by indecent people?

How do we stop “wokeism” and the cultural decay it causes to our liberties?

Doing nothing is not an option. Our churches and pastors remaining silent on the philosophical descent into cultural hell must stop! Passivity is not an option!

Descending into hell is easy; the gravitational pull of passivity and apathy is the devil’s specialty.

Passivity is the unfortunate welcome mat that always leads to personal and national disaster.

Real men flourish when they battle the evil of their time. Doing nothing destroys the masculine soul. Men, at all cost, avoid passivity!

While many women are speaking out against men invading femininity, where are the men speaking out against the transitioning of boys and men into women? Where is your voice against women becoming men?

If nothing is said; if men shy away from defending traditional masculinity, fatherhood, and brotherhood, culture and society will reverse into the abominable.

The abominable cannot reproduce sons and daughters. Rather, they can only corrupt and convert your sons and your daughters to their ideology. Once the abominable reversal takes root, it will be irreversible.

Sadly, though, we have entered into a new era called:

“The Great Reversal”

That is, all that was once true is now false, and what was once false has become “true.” This Great Reversal is an engineered social-political and philosophical machine designed to destroy traditional values, and its purpose is to eliminate all value centers, including: marriage, family, fatherhood, gender, and any religious organization that denies the “new social norm.”

Your only antidote is to focus your heart and mind to Jesus Christ, who is the only Eternal and Unchanging Truth of God. Seek him while he can be found and before his truth is outlawed. The outlawing of all that speaks and promotes truth is happening all around us. Instead of truth, untruth is promoted to our children in their schools, colleges, universities, cable networks, Hollywood, and the Worldwide Web.

Canada is also going through a fierce assault on truth and reality. This leads me to ask, where will you go if we lose America?

This great reversal is creating a fascistic society here in America. It’s obvious, isn’t it? Those who accuse America as being fascist are themselves the fascists, all the while ignorant about fascism.

Fascism is the absence of common sense and is designed to exploit common decency until the indecent rules everything.

Do not become an agent for the Great Reversal. Uphold truth even if it’s unpopular. Speaking out may cause you to lose your job, friends, and family members. But the alternative is far worse, worse for you, your children, and your children’s children.

Understand the times in which you live.

Passivity is the unfortunate welcome mat that always leads to disaster.

There may be a time coming, whereby fighting for truth may cost more than your reputation.

Will you fight?

Real men flourish when they battle the evil of their time. Doing nothing destroys the masculine soul and any nation.

There was a time in history whereby most men, young, and middle-aged, clamored to join the armed forces to battle European communism, and again against North Korea, and then once more in Vietnam and Laos.

Men, do you not see that communism is already here, now, and all around you?

It didn’t arrive as a mechanized army, with planes, helicopters, and tanks in our air or on our beaches; it quietly arrived in our institutions, schools, colleges, universities, and yes, even in many so-called churches. It’s taken over our halls of congress, the Whitehouse, American corporations, and the entire TV and cable news broadcast industry.

We won’t be fighting the Chinese, North Koreans, and Russians. We’ll be fighting fellow Americans who have sold their minds to communistic professors and educators who turned your children into their homegrown revolutionaries! Heck, many of you even paid the tuition towards the demise of your own offspring!

But you didn’t notice the takeover because you chose to be silent, passive, and tolerant during the rise of The Great Reversal.

The push to reverse what we see, hear, and say is to force or trick us into denying the present reality. If we allow this to continue, reality will turn into hell.

Who is the author of the Great Reversal?

It is the ancient Father of Lies. He’s famous for twisting the truth. He began in the Halls of Heaven, being cast down to earth, where he’s been deceiving mankind over and over again, beginning in Eden. Now, over the past 130 years, his dark regime has been progressively destroying our values and replacing them with the satanic.

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20

The definition of “woe” is: 1. a condition of deep suffering from misfortune, affliction, or grief, or 2. ruinous trouble, calamity, tragedy.

Boycotting is not enough to stop the Great Reversal. We all must find our voices and in unison shout, NO! Not today, tomorrow, or ever!

The Power of Inner Peace – By Thomas Koester

Your inner peace expressed outwardly is a greater force than a sword or spear.

Inner peace equals outer peace. You can’t have one without the other. The world’s peace is fragile and flimsy. You’ve not been given worldly peace.

Jesus’ Gift of Peace

“Peace, I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.” John 14:27

Jesus tells us that his peace transcends the world’s concept of peace. So much so that our hearts must not be troubled or fearful. To be troubled or fearful means that our focus on Jesus has been compromised. We’ve allowed something other than the peace of Christ to work its way into our hearts and minds.

This doesn’t happen overnight. A slow and steady diet of false peace that the world offers; that is, peace in persons, places, and things is nothing but empty calories, so to speak. We think that if we live in the world that we must act like the world. But honestly, we are no longer of this world. Our hearts and minds should be in heaven, the same place our treasures ought to be.

It’s the world’s trouble and fear, which makes us think that way. Closeness to Jesus, resting in his authority, his Holy Word, and abiding in the Holy Spirit (The Comforter) is how we have peace while the world and our Nation are in turmoil.

Are you aware that turmoil and chaos are just around the corner?

Are you ready?

Will your peace weather the storm?

The world has its warriors, but you men and women are sons and daughters of The Most-High God! You are heirs to Christ and possessors of the Holy Spirit. You have no trouble like the world has and nothing to worry about.

I’ll repeat it; you have no trouble like the world has and nothing to fear! Instead, don’t join the world, rather quiet the world with the peace of Jesus Christ.

Your Savior is the Prince of Peace, and he resides in you! But you also must reside in the Words of Jesus, in his promises, and in his commands.

What can make your trouble troubling is when you forget that Jesus has made you an overcomer. Jesus never said if we believed and belonged to him that we’d have no problems. On the contrary, here’s what Jesus has said:

“I have told you this so that through me you may have peace. In the world you’ll have trouble, but be courageous—I’ve overcome the world!” – John 16:33

Your inner peace expressed outwardly is a greater force than a sword or spear. If you have faith, trust, and obedience, your true enemies will know of your qualities well before you arrive—well before you pray and before you speak. You will be known as God’s Peaceful Warrior!

Have you ever thought of yourself as God’s peaceful warrior? Well, you have no reason not to. Jesus tells those following him:

“I tell you no one ever born on this earth is greater than John the Baptist. But whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” – Matthew 11:11

You see, what little faith you may have, and what little importance you may feel, dosen’t detract from your place in God’s Kingdom. No, not one bit! According to Jesus, you’re actually greater than John the Baptist!

Understanding this truth, coupled with “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus,” as read in Philippians 4:7, should supercharge you confidence!

Are you aware of just how frightening your inner peace is to the enemy?

Being a peaceful warrior devastates the devil and his wretched plans. It reminds him of the Messiah’s resurrection, and he scurries away, instantly defeated.

“Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and the power of his might.” – Ephesians 6:10

“For unto us a child is born, unto us, a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6

“Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.” – Psalm 119:165

When you understand that “all government” is on the shoulders of the Prince of Peace, and nothing can make you stumble, you’ll excel in calmness, courage, and boldness.

Rest in the Peace of Jesus, and join His army of peaceful warriors!

A Few Good Men – By Thomas J. Koester

History shouts, “It only takes a few good men!”

I Dare You To Become Greater Than Your Fathers. I dare you to become a real man!

A Few Good Men is an intergenerational and interdenominational movement of men for all ages. We believe that segregating our youth from the men in our churches, ministries, and communities is counter-productive to the process of raising our boys into strong men and leaders of tomorrow. We believe men, without the opportunity and access of our youth, are a terrible loss of potential and vice-versa.

Becoming a man is not a chronological process. You simply do not grow into manhood or masculinity. John Eldredge describes masculinity as “that quality or characteristic of manhood being passed through close proximity to boys.” You can not take a class or read a book on becoming a man. It is mystically and methodically passed through the process of mutual struggle and the sharing of life’s experience.

Many times, when older men share their struggles, losses, and defeats in a room full of young men, you’d think they’d be bored to tears. They’re not. They are inspired to open and share their own struggles, losses, and defeats. And when we have this kind of “open vulnerability,” change is possible. Community develops, and a band of brothers is formed.

“This story shall the good man teach his son; … From this day to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be remembered-We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile, This day shall gentle his condition, from this day, till the end of the world” – William Shakespeare, King Henry V, Act IV, Scene III.

We need each other. A father needs a son, and a son needs a father. In a perfect world, each of us would have a present, communicative, warm, and loving father. He would be their to father us through each of life’s challenges, showing us the ropes, teaching us, and modeling how life is to be lived, fought for, and how to love and sacrifice.

It is the purging of our hurts, losses, and pains, which eases the suffering of becoming a man. It helps young men and boys to see the scars and wounds older men have amassed over the years. It helps because they learn they’re not alone, not misfits nor Martians. Life is hard. I said earlier, “In a perfect world, each of us would have a present, communicative, warm, and loving father;” this, however, isn’t reality.

Some of our deepest wounds were delivered by our dads. And, because it was our dads, the wound is life altering and disruptive; it takes many of us “off course” from the path of our intended journey.

Most of us have not been invited into manhood but have entered in, without guidance and the advantage of a present and available father. We are lost. Lost sons and then lost men. Most of us men are simply aged boys. We’re stuck and trapped, and inside is a small and frightened boy. On the outside is the body of a man, pretending to be a man on the inside. His life is carefully lived, concealing this truth.

If boys are to become men; or, if lost adult males are to become men; we must open up in a sanctuary (safe place) for us to share our stories. The telling of your story is the first step to being found.

One of my favorite movies is “Hook,”with Robin Williams as “Peter Panning” and Dustin Hoffman as “Captain Hook.” The scene where the Lost Boys have their early encounter with “Peter Panning, the Lawyer” was one of rejection and disbelief. “‘He’s not ‘The Pan,’ he’s fat and old!'”

The Lost Boys become divided; some believe he is “The Pan,”and others do not. Even Peter Panning thinks they’re all nuts. However, a little boy approaches Peter Panning. The little boy takes the face of Peter Panning into his hands and begins to shape it, looking for something lost, peering into his eyes. Suddenly, the boy lifts Peter’s sagging face into a smile, and the little boy exclaims; “Oh, there you are, Peter!”

You see, deep within you is that lost boy. You were knocked off your intended journey into manhood and masculinity. Somewhere, you became lost. It sometimes takes the brave young boy to look you deep into your soul and say, “There you are, Jeff! There you are, Bob! There you are, Mike, or John or Steve!” We need the youth, and the youth need us. Together, we find each other. Together, we become men.

We invite you; no, rather we call you to join A Few Good Men. I dare you to be greater than your fathers. You do indeed have what it takes. You are no longer a lost boy but found, wanted, and needed.

Join us in becoming men. Men of honor. Men of God. A Few Good Men!

Hard Fought Happily-Ever-After — By Thomas J. Koester

Because every love story has an adversary!

Love is worth the battle—you are worth battling for. Don’t surrender. Your story is not over!

An adversary and a battle always precedes a happily-ever-after. Not only is this true for every romance and marriage, but it is also true of our faith. Storytellers and movie-makers are consistently using this theme over and over again.

What kind of romance, marriage, or faith would there be without an adversary and without a battle? Wouldn’t a movie or story be boring without an adversary and without battle?

After all, adventure, battle, and beauty are within our DNA—within the very depths of our hearts and souls.

As a matter of fact, the themes of an adventure, battle, and beauty are actually borrowed from God’s story of his crowning creation, that is, Adam and Eve. First, he creates them, then loses them to the Serpent’s craftiness. Then, God pursues his creation until he later rescues mankind back from the adversary by sending our champion, Jesus Christ the Righteousness One. Not only does God rescue those he lost, but his Son delivers a death blow to our most wretched adversaries, Sin and Death!

“Will I ransom them from the power of the grave? Will I redeem them from death’s hold? Death, where are your diseases? Grave, where is your victory? — Hosea 13:14

“Death’s sting is sin, and the power of sin is the Law. Thanks be to God, who gives us this victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” — 1 Corinthians 15:56-57

“But the LORD says, “The captives of warriors will be released, and the plunder of tyrants will be retrieved. For I will fight those who fight you, and I will save your children.” — Isaiah 49:25

And, for those who believe, this is not quite the end of God’s story—not by a long shot! He is preparing a place for us, our happily-ever-after. A place where all adversaries, including sin, death, disease, and the devil; where all loss, decay and brokenness, and even our tears will be forever vanquished.

So, don’t despise hardships and adversities, with it comes a life worth living and a God who, not only loves to come through for his children, but trains us through our adversities and battles, to come through for those whom we love, including strangers that God brings across our paths.

“A song of David. Praise the Lord! He is my rock. He prepares me for war. He trains me for battle.” — Psalms 144: 1.

Happily-Ever-After is worth the scars and setbacks, for life and true living are their reward.

“But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and obtain life.” — Hebrews 10:39

Stand your ground. Cling to your faith. Be brave and upright. Hold to the truth. Love fiercely and never give up on others.

“For I consider that our present sufferings can not even be compared to the coming glory that will be revealed to us.” — Romans 8:18

“What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” — Romans 8:31

Engage your battles as a victor and never as a victim. For you are a true Child of God after all and your Heavenly Father, well He’s the God of the Angel Armies!

God is your happily-ever-after. He fights for you!

The Temptation of Self Sufficiency – By Thomas J. Koester

It matters which voice you listen to when you are weak and weary.

“After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The devil came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” – Matthew 4:2-4

It struck me recently that many times throughout my life, I’ve opted to turn stones into bread rather than wait for the word-by-word nourishment from the mouth of my Heavenly Father.

So much of my ego and masculinity is wrapped up in being independent and only asking and waiting for help as a last resort.

This is all about Sonship and resting and relying on the Father-heart of God. Anything short of this is living as an orphan and not as a true adopted son.

It can also be construed as one listening to the Father of Lies, succumbing to his temptation of denying my relationship and dependence on God, and therefore, turning stones into whatever I need.

So, when life, love, and the necessities of food, shelter, and clothing are exhausted, don’t turn your stones into bread and become self-sufficient. It is a test, and if you remain steadfast in your dependence on God and his Father-heart, you’ll not be disappointed nor dissatisfied. Our God is no deadbeat dad but a Faithful Father.

And the Devil, well, he is the Father of Lies and selfishness. Nothing good can come from him.

The Devil would have you become so self-sufficient that you wouldn’t need or want God; he’ll keep tricking you until you’re emotionally drained, spiritually dried up, and drifting in loneliness.

The reward is waiting and suffering through the loss or the lack until God comes through, as God is always faithful.

“I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging for bread.” – Psalms 37:25

“Don’t be impatient. Wait for the Lord, and he will come and save you! Be brave, stouthearted, and courageous. Yes, wait, and he will help you.” – Psalms 27:14

Too much self-sufficiency can wreck your soul. Listen to the Father of Life and not the Father of Lies.

Winning The Argument – By Thomas J. Koester

“The heart has arguments with which the logic of mind is not acquainted.” – Blaise Pascal

The greatest argument you must defeat is your indecision, not to decide. Letting your mind win all the arguments against your heart is no way to live – that’s how a coward lives, and you are no coward. Are you?

A brave soul follows their heart. You know, the place where God’s Spirit dwells.

Okay, I get it. It’s so much safer listening only to your mind. Logic and reason may be safe and comfy, but you weren’t made simply for a comfortable life. And I’m sure all your “what if this” and “what if that” are normal …

… Really?

… Are you just normal, or are you just afraid?

After all, your mind can conjure up excuse after excuse — heck, your mind is an excuse factory. But you know you can’t build a life on excuses. You’re beating down your own heart with excuses! Stop bullying yourself and ignoring God’s call to action, obedience, and adventure.

Following after God requires more than your mind; he also wants your body and heart. It’s a joint exercise of body, soul, and heart. Living that way will prepare you for life now and in the hereafter.

But, living a life stalled on “what ifs” will keep you from a life of what could be. You’ll simply be a person without legend, story, or belonging, which would be a tremendous waste of a life.

The mind lives for knowledge, but the heart, well, it soars on faith.

“There’s no end to the publishing of books, and constant study wears you out so that you’re no good for anything else. The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he tells you. For this is your whole duty.” — Ecclesiastes 12:12-13

So, don’t! Don’t waste your life. Rather, lose your life with Jesus; your heart will finally win the argument. Oh, and do what He says with all your heart and gusto.

I love the exchange between Rocky Balboa and his son, Robert Balboa Jr., in the film “Rocky Balboa,” released in 2006.

Robert complains to his dad that he’s fed up living under his shadow. Well, in Rocky’s own style, he rocks his son’s world with a fatherly motivational speech:

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place, and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now, if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that, and that ain’t you! You’re better than that! I’m always gonna love you no matter what. No matter what happens. You’re my son, and you’re my blood. You’re the best thing in my life. But until you start believing in yourself, ya ain’t gonna have a life.“ — Rocky Balboa.

Balboa’s advice is so universal! We all need a motivational “punch to the face” at least once or twice.

Back to reality…

… I’m writing this to you because you’ll need a brave heart and stout mind for what’s coming in the weeks and months ahead. No, it won’t be about you, so don’t worry. Nope, it will be about what you have to offer to others who’ll be confused and afraid. They’ll need your brave heart and clear mind. They’ll also need your motivational speech. So, be prepared.

Decide to be a brave person and lead with your heart and your mind filled with wisdom. Then, you’ll be the person who makes leaders and not followers. Leaders who’ll know how to win the argument and live from their heart.