TIME TO CLOSE THE STORE

With stores and businesses in this fledgeling economy closing by the droves, I guess it is time The Elephant Room follow suit.

I made a mistake with naming the address - I dated it. We are well into 09 thus, elephantroom08 is doomed to outdatedness. However - not irrelevant and certainly not down for good.

The spirit of blog is all over me these days - so I'm searching either for a new venue or at least a new blog name - this time, not dated. I will leave this blog up until I have settled on a new home. Meanwhile - I'm open to suggestions for a blog name - since some have critisized me for this name (stating I didn't have "rights" to use the GOP Elephant, paleeze). But - it is time to move forward and looking with motivation, hope, and excitement for 2010.

Republicans and Conservatives in general have a tremendous opportunity. Someone stated that the Democrats are the gift that keeps on giving....they win our elections for us because their policies are doomed for failure. We can only hope that by the time the mezmorized media and misguided municipal realize their mistake, the country is not damaged beyond repair.

Someone commented on a former Blog (not sure which one) in a sarcastic way stating "I guess you have all the answers don't you - how nice." I certainly don't have all the answer's but I have the one answer that matters: Jesus Christ as your personal savior, trust and faith in His crucifiction at Calvary (death, burial, and resurrection) and nothing or no one else. With that - no matter how much detriment to society and our culture we may see - we always have hope. Not Obama's hope - but Hope in Christ.

This world is not my home - I'm just passing through.

I will announce in a final blog where I begin the new one - once determined.

Questions for Obama

I’m certain that John McCain cannot afford himself the privilege of asking some very difficult and exposing questions in a debate with Barak Hussein Obama. It might have something to do with the “throwing stones in glass houses” theory, or Hollywood and the press might have a hay-day making him out to be mean spirited as they did after the last debate in Nashville.

However – I have some serious questions that I need to have answered before I could ever pull the lever (or however we vote here in my district) for Barak Hussein Obama. So, I’m simply going to ask them. Though I don’t exactly fall into the category of “undecided voter” I’m not necessarily a McCain enthusiast either. But as it stands – with the following questions that I need answers to – Barak Hussein Obama makes me very nervous as an American voter – no matter how popular he might be right now.

So – Mr. Obama, if you or someone on your staff could answer these questions – I’ll be more than happy to oblige your campaign with posting your answers everywhere I have posted these questions on the internet.

1. If you grew up in such a penurious home environment – how were you able to afford to attend Ivy League Universities like Harvard?

2. When you attended the Occidental college in California – how did you enjoy such a vicarious lifestyle of drug use (by your own admission) and still maintain the grade level necessary to be accepted into Harvard?

3. What is your current relationship with your then college roommates Muham Hasan Chandoo and Wahid Hamid both of Pakistan?

4. If your family was of meager financial means – how did you pay for an around the world trip in 1981 which included a trip to Pakistan, Africa, and India? Incidentally – I struggle to pay for a trip to DC – and I live 20 miles away.

5. When you returned from that trip – how did you afford to enter into Columbia University in NY?

6. If the answer to the affordability questions to your college was student loans – how did you pay off those loans on a $12,000 a year salary as a Chicago Community Organizer?

7. What is your current relationship with Antoine “Tony” Rezko who was convicted this year of Fraud and Bribery but was in recent years named Entrepreneur of the DECADE by the Arab-American Business and professional Association?

8. Did Mr. Rezko pay for your college tuition to Harvard?

9. Did the law firm you went to work for after your Harvard graduation represent Mr. Rezko?

10. Did Mr. Rezko, who again is guilty of fraud and bribery and a member of the Arab-American Business and professional Association – fund or help fund your Senate campaign?

11. How are you able to afford a home worth $1.65 Million, and maintain your college education bills – because you were from a family with meager financial means?

12. Did you pay $1.65 Million for that house?

13. How and why did Rezko buy the property right next to yours?

14. Is it true that Nadhmi Auchi, an Iraqi-born Billionaire loaned Rezko $3.5 million only three weeks prior to your new home purchase? Of course you can’t answer that question – because who loans what to whom is really none of your affair – but I do find it odd and highly coincidental. So if you could shed some insight for me...

15. Have you ever med Nadhmi Auchi? Have you ever had a meeting with him and Rezko? Don’t need to know the purpose of the meeting – just whether or not you’re all three “buds” or something?

16. What is your relationship with Valerie Jarrett? Does she have a position in your campaign?

17. Where is Valerie Jarrett from? I heard she is originally from Shiraz, Iran. Isn’t that a conflict of interest considering your current position stated in your campaign where Iran is concerned? Scary.

18. Who is Robert Malley? What is his relationship to you and/or your campaign?

19. Does he have regular contact with ‘Hamas,’ which controls Gaza and connected to Iran as one newspaper supposedly reported?

20. Did you ask Iraqi leaders to do nothing about the war until after you were elected? And did you tell them you would “take care of things”?

21. OH – and those college roomies of yours out in California – were they Pakistani’s? What are those guys up to now-a-days? I hear they are in charge of all those “small” internet campaign contributions your campaign receives, is there any truth to that?

22. Where do those small internet contributions come from?

23. I wonder – and I know you can’t answer this – but I still wonder what the average contributor to your campaign makes per year? Can they really afford you? Or does the money come from the Middle East?

24. Did you tell George Stephanopoulos that you were of the Muslim Faith as The Washington Times reported on September 7, 2008? I know you stated that you made a mistake – but taking a lesson from the Bill Clinton playbook – it could have just been a mistake to let that slip out…so…here’s the more direct question: Are you Muslim in your Faith? (and yes – it does matter).

25. Did you sue anyone or any mortgage related businesses during your career which resulted in Federal legislation forcing mortgage loan companies like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to approve bad loans – ultimately resulting in our current economic demise?

26. Did you vote down legislation that would have allowed a new born baby that happened to be a failed abortion attempt – denying that child healthcare and was left to die as a result of your actions? Wouldn’t that be defined as Infanticide (that’s how I define it)?

27. Do you really believe that if you raise taxes on the corporations that Bush gave tax cuts to and McCain states that NO ONE get’s higher taxes – that if you raise them – they will cut costs elsewhere (inclusive of new jobs)?

28. Do you really believe that Americans are going to use less fuel to help in the Oil Crisis we currently face? Do you honestly think that’s the best answer coming from our government?

29. And finally – if any or all of the above questions are legitimate concerns – am I going to be able to sleep at night living just 20 miles south of DC with you in the White House?

Savannah Phillips For Student Body Treasurer

Campaign Speech for Savannah Phillips
Nominee for Student body treasurer at Matthew Henson Middle School

Hi, my name is Savannah Phillips and I want to be the COOLEST reasurer that Matthew Henson Middle School has ever had. I like being involved in our school and I care about how YOUR student government is ran.

I will make a great treasurer because my math skills are FOR REAL!!

AND

I CAN ADD!!!

Skills are not the only thing that make a cool treasurer. TRUST is a MAJOR!!

And you can totally trust Savannah Phillips.

Many of you are my friends and I want to thank all of you for signing my petition to be YOUR next treasurer.

By becoming treasurer, I will bring APPROACHABIITY to this office. It's cool to be a friend of the student body leaders and I want you as my friend. As your next treasurer I will work hard to serve this student body in maintaining accurate records and strong leadership within your student government.

My time is up. GOTTA BOUNCE!!

Vote for Savannah Phillips, your student body treasurer. Peace Out!

Bailing On Our Principles

by Governor Mike Huckabee

Frankly, I'm disappointed and disgusted with my own Republican party as I watch them attempt to strong-arm a bailout of some of America's biggest corporations by asking the taxpayers to suck up the staggering results of the hubris, greed, and arrogance of those who sought to make a quick buck by throwing the dice. They lost, but want the rest of us to cover their bets so they won't be effected in their lavish lifestyles as they figure out how to spend their tens of millions and in some cases, hundreds of millions in bonuses and compensation which was their reward for not only sinking their companies, but basically doing the same to the entire American economy.

It's especially disconcerting to see the very people who pilloried me during the Presidential campaign for being a "populist" and not "understanding Wall Street" to now line up like thirsty dogs at the Washington, D. C. water dish, otherwise known as Congress, and plead for help. I thought these guys were the smartest people in America! I thought that taxpayers like you and I were similar to the people at the U. N. who have no translator speaking into their headset - that we just needed to trust those that I called the power bunch in the "Wall Street to Washington axis of power."

The idea of a government bailout in which we'd entrust $700 billion to one man without Congressional oversight or accountability is absurd. My party or not, that is insanity and I believe unconstitutional.

Will there be far-reaching consequences without some intervention? Probably, but we honestly don't know since we've really never seen this level of greed and stupidity all rolled into one massive move. But may I suggest that letting "Uncle Sugar" step in and bail out the billionaires who made the mess will be far worse and will start a long line of companies and individuals who will demand the same of the government---which last time I checked means that they will be demanding it out of YOU and ME. This is not money that Congress is risking from THEIR pockets or future, but ours. Many if not most of us have already experienced lost value on our homes, retirement accounts, and pensions. Now they'd like for us to assume some further risks so they won't have to.

What happened to the "free market" idea? Is that only our view when we WIN and when we LOSE, we ask the government to come in and take away the pain?

If you are a small business owner, is this the way it works at your place? When you have a bad month, a bad year, or face having to close, can you go up to Congress and get them to write YOU a fat check to take away your risk?

Some of what contributed to this disaster is too much government in the form of Sarbanes/Oxley. Some is due to the tax structure that created the hunger for companies to "game" the system. Some is the common sense that was ignored like loaning money to people who can't pay it back.

Wall Street has become Las Vegas east, but at least in Vegas, people KNOW they are gambling and they don't expect the government to cover their losses at the tables. In Wall Street, they do. And the American taxpayer burdens the responsibility.

If Congress wants to do something, here are some suggestions:

1. Eliminate ALL capital gains taxes and taxes on savings and dividends right now. Free up the capital and encourage investment. This is the kind of economic stimulus the Fair Tax would bring and if Congress is going to lose money, let them lose it with lower taxes, not with public dollar bailouts of private market mistakes.

2. Repeal Sarbanes/Oxley. It has failed. It was supposed to prevent this. It didn't. Kill it.

3. Demand that the executives who steered their ships into the ground be forced to pay back the losses of their companies. Of course, they can't, so let them work and give back to the government and they can live like the people they put on the streets or kept there. It makes no sense to put them in jail—that's just more they will cost you and me. I'd rather them go out and earn money—just not get to keep so much of it this time. I'm not talking about limiting CEO salaries---just those of the people who now are up in Washington begging for help because they ruined their companies.

Attempts by Democrats and Republicans to blame each other is nonsense. They are both guilty and ought to own up and admit it. They all lived off big campaign contributions and the swill of the lobbyists who strong armed them into permission to steal. Enough of blame. Fix it!


This would be a start. If we don't hold these guys responsible, we are all finished!

Wolves In Sheeps Clothing

It's Getting To Be A Real Jungle Out There

In Matthew 7:15-20 Jesus issues a serious warning to "beware of false prophets." Sadly, this warning is more necessary today than ever before! Jesus said in Matthew 24:11 & 24 that in the last days there would be more and more false prophets. St. Paul warned the elders of the church in Ephesus to be on guard because after his (Christ) departure "SAVAGE WOLVES" would come among them not sparing the flock (Acts 20:28-31). A few years later St. Peter warned in II Peter 2:1-3:

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift
destruction and many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words, for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

St. John the Apostle likewise warned at the end of the first century in I John 4:1-3

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are
of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you
know the Spirit of God. Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come
in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ
has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist,
which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

What Jesus, Paul, and Peter warned of - John declared had already occurred before the end of the 1st century. How much more true today are John's words that "many false prophets have gone out into the world?" How much more true today are Peter's words that "...many will follow them?"

I have recently been absolutely appalled by the major Evangelical leaders today that have missed opportunity after opportunity to stand up for Christ on a National level with a major secular audience and have literally denied the power of Christ and His gospel message.





These are only two examples of Popular Preachers who have the audience and opportunity to change lives for Christ and yet deny him. When I first watched these video's I tried to justify the remarks - because these gentleman are so respected in the world.

So many people in our country and throughout the world will have the opportunity to hear this FALSE message of Christ and begin to believe they are "OK with God" when the Holiness of God and the Scriptures require a different outlook completely.

There are a few things I would point out about "False Prophets" or "Wolves in sheep's clothing"

1. Beware of False Prophets because of their Deadly Deceitfulness (Matthew 7:15)

False prophets do not introduce themselves as such. They don't wear name tags or stickers that say "Hello My Name Is FALSE PROPHET." They don't go by the title Rev. Wolf (unless there happens to be a pastor who's last name is really wolf). It is their sly, slick, and sneaky ways that make false teachers so dangerous. They come to the church and to society as wolves dressed as harmless sheep, the most ravenous of animals disguised as the most harmless of animals. This is the deceitfulness of the false prophet.

Jesus may have had a specific practice of the false prophets of his day in mind. During the 400 silent years between the Old and New Testaments in which no prophetic word from God was heard, many "pretenders" arose claiming to be prophets with a word from God. This continued into the first century. They would attempt to dress in animal skins like the prophets of old often had. Jesus may be saying here that all those who try to mimic the attire of a prophet are not prophets. Instead underneath their costume, which is all it is, they are ravenous wolves.

In our modern day, false prophets still use the same tactic: trying to pass themselves off as the real thing by disguising their rue nature.

Islam - who has its own false prophet in Mohammad, claims to have the same God, speaks well of Jesus, but claims Jesus is merely one of the prophets and not the eternally begotten Son of God. They also teach a salvation by works as opposed to a salvation by grace.

Mormonism - who has its own succession of false prophets beginning with Joseph Smith, uses the same lingo, sings the same hymns, family friendly, passes itself off as another Christian church/denomination, but denies the uniqueness of Jesus as the eternal Son of God.

Jehovah's Witnesses - Use the same lingo, talk about Jesus, use the Bible, but affirm the ancient Arian heresy that there was a time when "the Son was not" - a denial of the deity of Jesus.

Joel Osteen - Looks good, always smiling, large church, bestselling books in Christian bookstores, but as the video portrays - will not stand on the word of God and affirm that Jesus is the way, the truth, the life, and NO MAN cometh to the Father EXCEPT BY HIM.

T. D. Jakes - Sounds good, knows how to preach, emotional, sweats a lot, but denies that God has always existed in three distinct persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He also claims (on MSNBC documentary) that he "is God's anointed" he is the man of the hour and "God's Chosen"

These are all signs of false prophets who preach a false god, a false Christ, and a false gospel. As Paul describes them in Philippians 3:18-19:

For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.

I understand that these words may seem harsh, but this is serious business. Eternal destinies are at stake. I share a fear that was expressed by the Apostle Paul in II Corinthians 11:3-4:

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his
subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in
Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

There is such a thing as another Jesus, another spirit, and another gospel and we must be on guard that we be not deceived by it.

2. Beware of False Prophets because of their Devilish Deeds (Matthew 7:16-18)

Jesus describes in these verses how a false prophet can be recognized: by their devilish deeds. These three verses provide an excellent counter-balance to the first five verses of chapter seven. Those verses' famous injunction to "judge not" is often taken as a command to excuse any kind of behaviour and to forbid any kind of evaluation of the actions of another. That is clearly not what those verses mean in light of the context of verses 16-18. Here, Jesus says that we should e fruit inspectors. The actions/lifestyles of false prophets tell on them.

The truth is stated to begin verse sixteen and is then illustrated by the question of verse sixteen: "Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?" The obvious answer to this rhetorical question is "NO! Of course not." Good trees bear good fruit. Bad trees bear bad fruit. This is a very simple horticultural principle that all of us can understand. It is impossible for a Good tree to bear Bad fruit or visa versa. Therefore, we must conclude, if you see bad fruit, you intuitively know "bad tree." If you see good fruit, you intuitively know "good tree."

What is the implication here? False prophets are known by their bad deeds. They may be able to hide their deadliness temporarily under a coat of sheep skin, but eventually they will be exposed for what they are. Because no matter how much they look like sheep, they will always still behave like wolves.

I don't need to recap the events of the past twenty years detailing the wicked deeds of many televangelists, pastors, and other supposedly Christian leaders in order to understand my meaning. There is no telling how many more will be revealed as charlatans during our lifetimes, but the greatest test of a false prophet is his/her teaching. Does it line up with the consistent teaching of the Word of God? If not, it is false. this means we must know our Bibles ourselves. The best defense against a counterfeit is to know the original. I am told that this is the way banks train their employees to recognize counterfeit bills They expose them to the real thing so much that the false is immediately apparent. That is the kind of people that we need to be. This is what we are called to be as Christians. This is part of my responsibility in teaching the Word of God, that false teachers will be recognized. A mature Christian shouldn't need a master list of all the good teachers and all the bad teachers. If the true preacher has done his job, the layman will be able to recognize the false prophet and if the layman has applied themselves to the study of God's Word - then by their fruits you will know them.

3. Beware of False Prophets Because of their Destructive Destiny (Matthew 7:19)

There is a final reason to avoid false prophets in these words by Jesus. It is that they have a destiny of destruction. Verse 19 states that "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

2 Timothy 4:2-4 states:

Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke,
exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they
will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to
themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears
from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

In 1 Corinthians 11:13-15 the Apostle Paul describes those who preach another Jesus as:

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves
into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into
an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be
transformed as the minister of righteousness; whose end shall be according to
their works.

These false apostles have preached words that lead to damnation and that's exactly what their destiny shall be. Peter says in 2 Peter 3:16 that those who twist scriptures do so "to their own destruction." James warns in the first verse of the third chapter of his epistle: "My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment."

The warning is clear: Don't be a false teacher and don't associate with them, lest you share in their destructive destiny.

In closing:

The reason that this matter so much is that there is a true gospel about the True Prophet. Moses prophesied that a Prophet greater than he would come (Deuteronomy 18:15) and the Apostle Peter declared Jesus to be that Prophet (Acts 3). Therefore the existence of false prophets is an attack upon Christ! All messages of hope of deliverance apart from faith in Christ are all false gospels of a false salvation declared by false prophets.

Forsake whatever it is that you are clinging to in this pop culture and run to Jesus.

Sabatical is over - time to pull out the elephant!!

OK! Huckabee's new website is forcing me to come out of political semi-retirement and start blogging again. This time - its the congressional race. Who do I support? I support a man that many Republicans say can't win because the incumbent congressman Stenny Hoyer is "unbeatable" but my candidate says IT CAN BE DONE! My only regret that my candidate is running is that if he wins - he would have to resign his elected school board position that oversees my children's schools.

Collins Bailey is active in his role as a Board of Education member. He keeps track of what is taking place in the schools. He listens to parents (like me) about concerns of social and cultural changes taking place that could potentially affect what my children are being taught that would be in direct conflict with my family's values and beliefs.

However - if he wants to run for Congress - I not only endorse him - I support him. I am serving as his County Coordinator for Charles County Maryland and I believe that Collins Bailey is the change that America is looking for (the real change and the right change - not the Obama change).

The American people made a huge mistake in 2006 when they threw out all of the Republicans and we are now paying the price for it. We need to reverse that and throw out those who want to do business as usual in Washington - not concerning ourselves with the R or the D behind the name.

Collins is a Republican. He wants to expel the incumbent and teach Washington how our goals to become an energy independent nation can happen. He wants to lead the nation to show Washington that we can follow its constitution and become a better nation for it. It CAN Be Done. Collins Bailey wants to show Washington that a balanced national budget CAN Be Done. Collins wants to prove to Washington that Americans will be better off without the IRS. It CAN Be Done. Mr. Bailey wants Americans to know that the Education system in America is best run by the state and local governments and not Washington Business as Usual Politics. It CAN Be Done. Collins is a Values minded candidate and believes that Roe v. Wade can and should be overturned.

I want to show Apathetic Republicans in Charles County and Maryland's 5th district that Stenny Hoyer (House Majority Leader) doesn't have a permanent address in D.C. Hoyer can be evicted. Collins Bailey has the plan for America that America needs and he has the "can do" attitude and spirit that led us to the campaign slogan: It CAN Be Done.

If all of the people who said "Mike Huckabee didn't have enough money to win the election" would have given $1 - Huckabee would have been the nominee. If all the people who said "Mike Huckabee can't win the nomination but I like him" would have voted for him in the primary He would have been the nominee. In Maryland's 5th district - we have the same defeatist mindset - but I say it again - if everyone who says Stenny Can't be beat will donate to the campaign, support by volunteering, and vote - we know It CAN Be Done.

Please visit Collins Bailey's website at http://www.baileyforuscongress.com/ and sign up today.

It CAN Be Done

Our House...It's A God Thing

Can God continue to bless our family as He has for us since we moved to Maryland? Don’t worry - this is not a political blog posting. This is an account for how God truly answered prayer and blessed us over and above what me or my family "...could ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20)

In 2003 my family moved from Russellville, AR to Waldorf, MD to pastor a church. Arkansas was my home state – having been born and raised in North Little Rock with summers spent on my grandparent’s farms in Faulkner County. Though I would miss everything I knew and loved and the friends back in the Razorback state, I knew God was calling us to Waldorf and the plus side for my wife was that for the first time in twelve years of marriage she would be close to her home town in Delaware – only two hours from home verses twenty.

When Robin and I were first engaged, I met her parents for the first time and in the same weekend I would ask her dad’s permission to marry me – what a shocker for them huh? Me being from the south – a head to toe redneck and Robin’s picture in the dictionary next to the word "Yankee" – one would think that would be enough culture shock for one life time. Her parents – when I met them for the first time – lived in a town-house. I told my – then – fiancé, that being married to a yankee would mean a lot of changes in my life – but one thing I will never do is live in a town-house. Have you seen these things? Two or three story apartments are about what they amount to – A living room and kitchen (both small) on one level, two or three bedrooms on the upper level, and if yours is a NICE one – a basement to make into whatever you need it to be.

Twelve years later I learned a valuable lesson that I should have learned long before: "Never say never" (I once stated I would "never live west of Arkansas," and spent ten years in Oklahoma – not a bad penance…I mean calling. We actually miss OK every now and again). The first house we purchased in Maryland we rented – a plan for our first year, and then to purchase – took four months to find while I lived with church members. Our first house – you guessed it – a Town-house. However, as town-homes go – I must say ours was quite nice – a blessing that was hard to count at times – but must be counted. The basement was both a playroom and my office. When I needed quiet office and study time – it didn’t get any quieter than that basement. There are times now that I find myself missing the town-house, but not so much that I would consider moving back to it. That just shows me how God blesses in the midst of what I might otherwise think "I’m making do" for now. If you don’t know what "making do" is – then you must be from the north.

Our year was up on our town-home lease. The property manager would not sign us for a month – to – month lease until we found a home. It was difficult to find anything in Charles County that was either in our price range – or big enough for our family. Two months prior to our lease being up we worked diligently with our realtor, looking for a suburban home in a decent neighborhood that fell within our ability to pay.

The deadline came and we had to move out of the townhouse. Now we were homeless (for all intents and purposes). Homeless out of our house, out of our respective states (Arkansas and Delaware) and had it not been for the good nature of a church family with a Fifth Wheel camper, who knows where we would have ended up.

Those who know me well know that my dream is to live in an RV during retirement – and this fifth wheel was nice. It had the slide out living room, nice large master bedroom and as far as camping is concerned, we couldn’t have asked for nicer. We actually had fun in that camper for the first week – me and my wife and two kids. With all of our possessions in storage – again – we tripped over each other, had sleepless nights listening to the traffic pass through the thin camper walls and feeling every movement as the camper shook and rocked when someone turned over in the bed. The second week was wearing on our nerves and by the time the fourth week rolled around – not only were we pulling our hair out – but I think our church members were wanting us to go….as their privacy too had been invaded by our two children upon their invitation to enter their home 24/7 as we pleased. Graciousness and congeniatlities only go so far when you live thick as thieves and you begin to appreciate more fully your privacy and space.

After four weeks of searching to no avail for an affordable housing situation it was time to take the church kids to youth camp. I must admit, I was looking forward to the get-a-way from the RV to go off to somewhere in Pennsylvania I had never been before, leaving Robin and our youngest child behind while I took our oldest to camp. While at camp, I was listening to the camp Evangelist for the week – Ken Cash of North Carolina – and something he said in his message rang a bell. For the first time in six months I had suddenly realized that I had not prayed about our family finding a house. It’s not that I hadn’t prayed in six months – I just hadn’t prayed asking the Lord to help us find a house. We had gone through all of the steps that a person goes through when buying a house. We obtained a realtor, let him do his job, we did our job in looking through magazines, internet, and driving around neighborhoods. We followed all the steps – but what I didn’t realize is that we had actually left God out of the process. Imagine, me a Preacher...a pastor...telling people... young married couples...to "make God the center of your families and you’ll have a successful marriage" and I had forgotten to do just that. So during the invitation that night I made an appointment with God – after I asked His forgiveness. I promised the Lord: "In the morning – I will spend as long as it takes until I have peace about this housing dilemma."

The next morning came. I told the other counselor that went with me that I would not be available for the morning and asked if he minded being with the kids and I would re-join as soon as I could. He agreed and after breakfast – instead of going to the scheduled events with our kids, I stayed in the cabin. Not knowing how to face God – due to the embarrassment I felt – I simply opened up to the book of James – where the camp evangelist had been teaching from that week – and read a chapter or two – or three - OK, I read the entire book. Then I began to pray. My spirit flooded with sorrow, and I began to cry on God’s shoulders. I apologized for neglecting Him and His involvement in our house search. I began to complain to Him of how tired we were of looking for a house and how cramped that fifth wheel was.

I was reminded of how I found myself depending on Him most of my life and certainly most of my married life. Once before, twelve years prior, I had spent most of a night on my knees telling God I couldn’t provide for my newly-wedded wife, who had cried herself to sleep that night because we didn’t have enough money for groceries. I reminded God of his own words "I have come that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10b) and proceeded to tell Him that the life we were living was not one of abundance, but of poverty, stress, and worry. It was that night that the Holy Spirit spoke to me as clearly as my wife had only a few hours before. Certainly it wasn’t an audible voice, but when the Holy Spirit speaks to your inner soul, there is no question for the child of God as to the Source. The Lord basically told me to let go of my problems and give them to Him. At that moment, I realized that I had been trying to run my own life. I was trying to work out my own problems by working two jobs to make ends meet, looking for other odd jobs and sources of financial assistance, not to mention enough energy expenditure in worry and stress to power a small city. Not knowing what else to do or where to turn – I went to God. Why is it that we always wait until the darkest hours of our lives to consider God? I realized in that night of prayer that I had been working the gears and the machinery of my life instead of allowing God to manage the mechanics.

When I was young I remember my Pastor saying more than once that "Without God you couldn’t wake up in the morning. Without God you couldn’t take a breath. Without God you couldn’t even wiggle your fingers or your toes." With that in mind – the first vocal album I recorded in 1995 – I insisted on the song "I Can’t Even Walk Without You Holding My Hand." God reminded me of that message from Pastor Scott and in that reminding I realized that I can’t even provide for my family without His help. I told the Lord in a recalcitrant resonance that I was giving my problem to Him for Him to handle and that I fully placed my trust in His ability to provide for our need. During that next week, I went to the mailbox. There was an envelope with our name written on it – no address, no stamp, no post-mark, and no return address. I opened the envelope to find $150 in cash. In 1991, that bought a lot of groceries and if memory serves, money left over.

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be
filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding
abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh
in us, Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages,
world without end. Amen. Ephesians 3:19-21

Forward the video twelve years. I find myself again praying a similar prayer. Not about groceries, but about a roof over my family’s head, now having two children. Alone in a Youth Camp Cabin in the strange land of Amish country Pennsylvania (strange to this Arkansas boy – having never been further north than Louisville, KY) I once again turned my problem over to the Lord. I apologized for not having included Him in the search and process of finding a house. By the end of my prayer I had felt a strong sense of peace come over me and I just wept in the presence of God and enjoyed His fellowship.

The rest of the day seemed brighter as it usually does when you spend quality time with the Lord. I seemed to enjoy the kids more. The entire day my mind was on that morning and the peace was noticeably prominent in my spirit. I didn’t question it; rather I simply relished it, not realizing what I was about to experience that evening.

After the evening service and the night activities were in motion at the camp my cell phone rang. It was Robin. She usually let me call her since I was at Camp and she didn’t know what my schedule was, but she had called me. We had the usual "how are you" conversation then the ominous utterance: "I have something to tell you."

That’s usually not a good thing, so I nervously responded, "what is it?" not knowing what to expect next.

Robin said "I think I found us a house."

I could literally feel the hair raising up on the back of my neck. I had just prayed that morning – for the first time in six months of looking – I had asked God’s forgiveness for neglecting Him in the search process – and asked the Lord to help us. Only nine hours later – after looking for six months – my wife found a house? My mind was racing with these thoughts and others within seconds of my wife telling me this news.

"Tell me about the house" I said to Robin.

"It’s on 7 acres…"

"What??" I interrupted. I know the properties we had seen and researched.
There was nothing in Charles County, Maryland that fit our financial budget and now she’s going to tell me she found a house on seven acres? She had lost her mind – we will never be able to afford that. I then asked "Is this within our budget?" and she stated yes and told me the list price of the property.

"Robin, seven acres, within our budget – what is wrong with the house?"

She said – "there is nothing wrong with the house, it’s in good shape, it’s solid, the realtor said it was more solidly built than the suburban homes we had been looking at. There is just one problem though…"

Today I can quote the words of Jesus "…O ye of little faith" (Matthew 6:30) but that night I was thinking this can’t be true, something is wrong with this house and she is not telling me everything. However, I was also beginning to realize - - "This is the house that God has answered my prayer with – the one I just prayed this morning." At that moment in my thinking while Robin was describing the physical aspects of the house it occurred to me – "this is our house. This is the house God has provided us…I know it because we had searched for six months and this is not just a coincidence. I began to shake, and pace, my spine was tingling, my hair was standing, God was telling me – "stop questioning and accept this answer to prayer."

Robin’s words began to come to the forefront of my mind just then as I heard her say "…one thing that might be a problem…"

I said "What is that?" – while thinking to myself – "nothings a problem at this point – this is our house that God has given us."

She stated "The house is kind of small."

My response after a quick sigh of relief…."Is it bigger than the fifth wheel we’re living in?"

She laughed and answered "Yes, a little bigger – it’s only 900 square feet."

Of course I had no idea what 900 square feet was I just said – "it’s bigger than the fifth wheel – its big enough for me."

I didn’t tell her about my prayer time with the Lord during this conversation – I was still embarrassed as I know my wife had been praying. I just told Robin…"I know this is the house, go sign the contract tomorrow."

"But you haven’t seen it" she answered.

"I don’t need to see it, I know this is the house and I can’t tell you how I know right now – but trust me on this one. You’ve seen it, you like it, I don’t need to see it because I believe the Lord is in this…I will fax you over a Power of Attorney first thing in the morning so you can start the paperwork."

She said "You’re going to buy a house – sight unseen?"

While trying to hold back the tears and shouting I answered – "I wouldn’t buy just ANY house sight unseen, but I’m not questioning God on this one. I don’t need to see it. He saw this house before you or I and I’m telling you all I can tell you right now – this is our house."

She said "OK???" with a question mark in her tone. "I’ll take care of it…"

As soon as she hung up – I walked as fast as I could back to the cabin where I had talked to God earlier that morning – got back down on my knees and thanked Him for such a speedy reply and how I recognized fully that His hand was in this house and I would always give Him glory and credit for our owning it.

There is so much more I could tell about our house that God has blessed us with. I do realize now – quite fully in fact – what 900 square feet looks like. It is bigger than a fifth wheel – but not by much. But I haven’t complained once – and not a single day goes by that I don’t look out of my bedroom window or off my back deck, out into the back field watching a six point buck chase a doe in the spring time and remember the spiritual lesson I learned (3 years ago at this writing) about trusting God for all of our provisions.

"Wherefore if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? … for your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:30-33

"I have been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is. So I say, "My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the LORD." I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young. Let him sit alone in silence, for the LORD has laid it on him. Let him bury his face in the dust— there may yet be hope." Lamentations 3:17-29

You can see our Blessing from God on my myspace. I have pictures and video: www.myspace.com/pastormikephillips