Restoring Marriage to the place of honor described in God’s word.

John Branyan and the four guys you never heard of are coming back to Seymour for one night only on November 6, 2009.  Purchase Tickets:

A day of rest

Gay tells me it takes me about two full days to recover from the NOLA outreach.  She is usually right about those things because she makes her first ministry to know her man and what he needs.  So here I am in Palmetto Florida taking a much needed rest.  I woke up this morning sick and exhausted.

It’s Friday.  I left NOLA on Tuesday Morning; Rode my bike the 240 miles to meet Gay in southern Alabama.  We spend the next 2 days getting her brother’s house in Palmetto, FL (about 600 miles).   We had the most beautiful ride along the gulf coast on Thursday morning.  The road was so close to the water that the left hand should was actually beach.  The sun was coming up over Magnolia Bay and the temperature was finally warm enough to completely enjoy the ride. 

My four days in the French Quarter were still fresh in my head.  The sounds and smells, the sticky streets and all of God’s loved ones needing Him so badly.  Over and over I prayed that Eric who wanted to know Jesus but simply could not make a commitment had done so by now.  And that Matt, who wanted to know more about Jesus, but waited until his friends let us alone for a few moments to ask.  For Trueblood, he alcohol had taken his life as he cried for his children and grandchildren he could not help.  Bless the group of young people who had separated themselves from the crowd to hear the gospel and allow me to pray for them to know the savior.  I also prayed that God would water the seeds planted, reap the harvest started and celebrate the victories won.  But more than anything that he would multiply the workers in the fields so that fewer of his children would go to Hell.

What God is teaching me today

Matthew 9:35-38.  Jesus saw them and had compassion.  He told us to pray that the Lord of Harvest would send workers.   This is theme we hear over and over, Jesus telling us to go and to pray that others would join in.  While downtown I may have talked to 100 people.  They heard that God loved them and had a plan for them.  (Some heard and responded… one more soul not bound for hell!)  But there were tens of thousands of people there.  Most were looking for something that would satisfy their hunger and thirst.  While talking with one, I could see them walking past.   Just out of my reach.  Would they hear the gospel today?  Would they get a chance to say yes to Jesus?  Would one of Jesus’ disciples show up and rescue them?

I wrote in an earlier blog that I wanted to set up a rescue shop near the gates of hell rather than live in the sound of the mission bell.   There was no mission bell on Bourbon Street and it sure looked like the gates of Hell to me.  I believe this is similar to what Jesus saw in Matthew 9.   Those little lost lambs with no shepherd.   Church, please move out of the four walls of the church building.  They are dying out there - all alone.

The Monday before Fat Tuesday

The crowds were thinner this year and more friendly for the most part.  The wildness was the same.  For those of you who have never been to Mari Gras in NOLA let me explain.  

The beads… they are everywhere. Many of you have seen “Mardi Gras beads hanging from the rearview mirror of someone’s car.   Beads are general thrown (often that are called “throws”) from a float or balcony and then caught by some one on the street.  Often the beads are an enticement then reward for exposing one’s private parts or performing some mock sex act for the entertainment of the people throwing the beads.  It is normal to see men walking down the street with an arm full of beads and perhaps t-shirts and asking girls (young and old) if they would like a reward.  Many times the women intentionally wear shirts that are easy to pull up to expose themselves.  It is not uncommon to see women with no shirt at all – only beads hanging around their necks.

The parades happen mostly on Canal Street and can last for 2-3 hours.  Float after float passes by literally raining throws on the crowd gathered.  The best beads are kept to entice someone out of the crown up next to the float and continue the sex tradition in front of the “Family” oriented crowd along the parade route.   Perhaps worse than that – on Fat Tuesday the mayor of the city will hand over dominion of the city to the King Barcus celebrated by a parade by the same name. This is a symbolic surrender of the city to a Roman God.

On Monday night you can see the people change.  It becomes clear that they realize they have been handed over to a spirit.  Some are whole hardily in favor of this Load of lust and give themselves over to it.  Others are confused but go along for the ride because they don’t know better.  This is why we come.  We want to offer an alternative – Jesus.  We want to let folks know there is a loving savior that will cure their ills, fix their broken hearts and accept them with open arms no matter what.  This particular Monday night many answered this call.  They were hungry to accept some less evil and were please at how good the Lord tasted when they did.  Thank you Jesus for your loving kindness.

What God taught me

Every one worships.  Its built into who we are.  The people in the streets I saw were all looking to worship – something.  Many were choosing to worship some false God, some were worshipping themselves others heard the message of Jesus and worshiped Him. 

Remember Jesus is Lord and every know will bow to his name.  Even those I encountered on the street who refused Jesus wanted something to worship.  You can see in their faces, hear it in their profession and you can see the fear in them as they apologize to you for choosing to refuse Jesus.  They have accepted the lie of the devil – that there will be time to take care of it later – party today confess and repent tomorrow. 

If there is any part of your life where God is calling for choices?   Choose THIS DAY.  Don’t wait and allow a false God get a foothold in your life.  New Orleans is a lot like sin ad is called the Big Easy because it is easy to in – Its hard to get out.

Sunday on the streets of NOLA

I was ill on Saturday and had trouble staying focused on ministry.   I think I was being disobedient to the call for help in the camp and so was not in the place where God had wanted me.    Ken Pounders kept calling for help with a security team to stay behind at the school and I continued to ignore the call.  He ended up short 2 people for Sunday afternoon so I was given an opportunity to repent and answer the call.  I did and what a blessing.

After a little rest while on duty at the camp Ken came, pick me up and dropped me off near the French market.  I almost jumped out the of car with Joy.  It was a new day and I had new and fresh oil.   I met up with my team who was eating dinner on Jackson Square.  I never pulled a sign out of my pack which is my usual tool.  Instead I used my partner to spot me and walked backwards down the street so that I could witness to the people waiking behind us.  Very effective.  We went to Bourbon street and just interrupted people with a greeting from God.   They responded.  W e offered prayer, they heard from the savior.  Wow I love this stuff.   

What God taught me.

I tried to witness the same witness I brought last year… nothing.  I went back with a new attitude and a new message.  The fish bit.  So many times we as Christian keep doing the same stuff and think that God will honor that with new results.  The fish won’t just jump in the boat.  You gotta keep trying new bait and new waters.   God is new every morning (Lamentation 3:22-23) and with him we never fail.

I need to keep learning new things of the Lord and to keep trying new things.  He wants me to be in the field but he needs me to pay attention to his direction.  I will never be fully trained… there is always something new.

Day 5 – How do I make the transition?

Last night we were in the streets of New Orleans to spy out the land and hear where God would like for us to be for ministry.  As I walked I saw so much going on.  It was like being there for the first time.  How different this life style is from mine.   Then I remembered a quote from Scott Hinkle “I don’t want to live within the sound of the mission bell – but rather run a rescue shop near the gates of Hell.”  Am I living so close to the mission bell that I cannot see the needs of those on the street? Why can I not relate to their needs and minister the love Jesus to them?  I pray that I have not lost that passion.  But how do I make the transition? 

Day 6 First full day of ministry

Saturday is always the first full day of ministry in the French Quarter when on this particular outreach.  We start the day pretty early – breakfast is served at 7:30 and church starts at 9:30.  In that 2 hour period we are expected to get ready for the day for physically and spiritually.  We shower, dress, have our personal quiet time and eat the first meal.   Church lasts about 2 hours; we eat lunch, get some final instructions and then are bused to the street of NOLA. 

On this particular first full day I simply could not get it going.  I felt tier, my feet were sore from gout and I did not prepare properly spiritually.  We were let off at the usually time and usually place but by 9:00 PM I was out of gas.  I could make no headway for the kingdom.  It was not a good night of ministry for me and I was beginning to wonder if my days of doing this were over. 

I knew I did not have a vision when I stepped off the bus –so I went in my own strength and with a last year’s vision. 

I am reminded of the 7 sons in the book of Acts that did not have personal relationship with Jesus but tried to do ministry with the borrowed knowledge and power of Paul.  I was spanked hard. 

Day 4 – Arriving At the camp

The ride today was short from South Alabama on into NOLA.  It was surprisingly cold but the road was good until I got within 30 miles of the city.  I saw poor roads, closed exits and devastated surroundings.  These are the leftover and forgotten ruins caused by the disaster we all witnessed from a class 5 hurricane.  I passed at least 3 exits that were closed – just concrete barriers covering them and no alternative route offered.  I guess the communities serviced by those roads are just forgotten.

What I learned today.

We are all hearing these terrible stories on the news how it is worse than it has ever been.  People are losing their homes, their jobs and everything that matters to them.   In the book of Joel the prophet tells us of another time when the nation was being ravaged “like nothing we have ever seen before”.   God calls us to return to him.

If you are reading this let encourage you to be like Joseph when was made a steward in Potefer’s home.  God prospered the fortunes of the home owner for the benefit of God’s people.  We are called to be god like and draw close to him.  God will be the one that pours out blessings on the nation for His glory.  Never mind who benefits – there is plenty to go around when we follow the will of God.  I refuse to participate in the recession.  You shouldn’t either… participate in God’s will and therefore His blessings. 

Day 3 – I miss my Dad

Today I woke up in Greenville, Alabama.  The weather report was for “abundant sunshine” and I got sunburnt on all the skin I had exposed; a sort of red sunburn beard.  The riding was great and already God is putting people in my path who want to hear about his love for them.

As I was loading my bike at the hotel this a man working the lawn named Tommy Goldsmith approached to ask about where I was going and what I have seen on my travels so far.  We talked about the weather and I told him about the path God provided yesterday.  He needed prayer for a healing in his life so we prayed.  God is so good.

 I had an extra day before I needed to be in New Orleans and only a couple hundred mile to go so I decided to visit my Dad’s home town; Pensacola, Florida.  This is the place we laid him to rest back in 1996.  The memorial garden is a beautiful place, a military grave yard on the grounds of NAS Pensacola.  It took me a moment to find the headstone because they ALL look exactly the same and are lined up so perfectly.  I did find it and read it out loud, again: Clifford George Broughton (my daddy, I thought); Feb 27, 1925; Jan 26 1996 (71 years, that’s not enough, I thought); US Army PFC WWII (thanks going to France, my dad was a hero you know).  I really miss my Dad. 

I finished the day talking with and praying for a troubled husband in Loxley, Alabama who is married 32 years and needed to hear that he can still live happily ever after.   Thanks for putting Bill in my path today.

What God is teaching me today?

My faith was really tested today.  Do I really believe that Dad is with the Father?  I remember the last time I saw Dad alive he was terribly ill and sitting in a wheel chair.  It was in the living room of the home he and Mom owned in Pensacola.  I had been visiting for about a week and was leaving to return to Indiana.  I felt then that I would likely not see him again this side of heaven.  I said to him “See ya latter Daddyo”.  He smile and told me he would see me later as well.  Dad and I had agreed out loud earlier in the week that we both believed in Jesus and that we would have the opportunity to see one another again when this life was over.  I missed Dad today – I searched myself  - and as I walked away from his memorial I said “see ya later Daddyo”. 

Do we really believe or is this something we tell one another to feel better when a loved one passes?  Do we know that we will join them?  Are we mourning to go where they are?   

Day 2 – A Great way was opened up for me

Today I needed to worked for a bit before I got back on the road. I stayed at my hotel until about 12:00 noon and then hit the road. I prayed this morning that God would provide a corridor through the rain that the weather guessers were telling me would plague my day. I wanted to be able to get through the day safe and without needing my rain gear.

He did more than that.  Countless times I could see the wipers wiping the car’s windscreens coming from the other way.   The roads were often wet but I never needed to stop and put on my rain gear.  I was never impeded by the rain.  Toward the end of the day I was actually driving through want felt like a tunnel.  It dark like night all around – rain and lightning striking in both sides of the road (perhaps ¼ mile form me) and yet  God provided a path for me.   Safe and free from rain until I eventually popped out the other side of the “tunnel” about 20 miles from my stop for the night.

What God was telling me today

I have never been one that made decisions based on the “Open Door Close Door” way of life.  I never felt right about it.   So many times we hear things like “if god closes a door he opens a window”.   I was never comfortable with that – am now I think I understand why.

God created a vast world but created us in a way that we can only live on part of it.  The oceans are deep and the mountains are high but we can not live under water or up high where oxygen is limited.  He wants us to live our lives in the place he designed for us.   He actually made us this way (biologically).  If you were to try to live under the water for more than about 4 minutes you would die.  If you were to try to live in the upper limits of the atmosphere, you would die in about 4 minutes.

God has created a place for us to be, daily (Luke 9:23) and a plan for us to live by (Jeremiah 29:11) and he opens doors for us (Luke 11:10).  But I can find no place where God opens a door for us to pass through then closes it before we enter into the reward.  Obey His call to ministry and see the open doors (1 Cor 16:9).  God loves us so much that he will make a way for us.  He only asks that we be obedient to His word and go where He sends us.

Day 1 – Travel in the cold

I Choose today as the day to leave because it was the warmest day we were having that I could leave and still be in New Orleans by Friday to meet with the team.   It seemed warm when I was packing my motorcycle with clothes and other things I would need for the trip.  It was a balmy 40 degrees.

I still have a job to do so I could not leave until about 1:00PM and I knew it was supposed to rain and get stormy before the day was over but I hoped I would be able to get far enough south that day 2 would be warmer.

As I eased the bike onto Chestnut street I could feel that something was different about the ride.  I started taking inventory… Tire pressure was OK, I had just changed the oil and my luggage was not as heavy as a passenger.   None of that could be the cause of the funny way the bike was handling.  Then I realized – the new back rest had me sitting up straighter then normal and I had on 4 layers of clothes; Including 2 layers of gloves.  That could explain it.  Indeed as I got on the expressway all systems were go and I was pretty warm.

Long about Henryville – I started to feel the cold.  About Louisville I got warmer because I was in the city, going slower and cities are always warmer.   I made to just south of Nashville and the rain made me stop.   The rain was actually sent by God to stop me.  You see I would have pressed on thinking I could make it to Alabama before I stopped.  If you are familiar with I-65 you know that once you pass Franklin TN you have some pretty dark and empty highway.  If I had not stopped when I did I would have had another 2 hours before a good stopping place and the sun would have been down.  I would have gotten VERY cold.  Thank you Father for your wisdom in letting the rain start right when it did. 

What did God teach me today?

I was thinking about treasure hunters.  They spend everything that own to find some treasure.  These men and women are not looking to get rich as much as they are to the ones that find the treasure.  It is the excitement of hunting, finding and then looking upon the treasure that is their motivation.  I hope that all Christians can grasp this idea.  When Jesus talking about a man that sold all he had to buy the field where he had found treasure it was not to buy the treasure but to buy the thrill of treasure hunting.   (Matt 13:44) This man knew that if he could be left alone on property he owned he could find more treasure.  He would spend his days looking for it, finding it and enjoying the ownership of it.

Brothers and sisters I hope and pray that you are looking for that field in which to do your treasure hunting.  When you find it I pray you are brave enough to sell everything you own to buy it.  Finally I pray that you will get to spend your days enjoying your field ad find treasure everyday.  Treasures that are laid up in heaven where they will never rust and thieves can not steal.