Jason E. Fort's Blog, page 2

God's Beautiful Creation

Yes, this post will be a departure from any of the political rants or philosophical diatribes opined by yours truly. But I couldn't help but realize the irony of the inspiration I received from a video about the migration of monarch butterflies... and the sound that the butterflies make when they are gathered down south in Mexico by the millions during the winter. The irony comes from the person who shared the video on social media; none other than the ultimate man's man; the man who taught me to be a man - my Dad! Man - has he mellowed over the years, haha! And the subject matter of the video brought me back to this picture I took of my son back in 2009, when he was still six years old.

Look at the picture. The pretty flowers in the background, in the vibrant yellow and white. Look at the greenery all around my boy, that lets you know right away - we were in a Nature Center. And there, perched on my son's shoulder in all its magnificence and humility, sits a beautiful monarch butterfly. Forgetting for the moment all about the beautiful curls in my son's hair that my wife loved so much, before he grew up to be a man's man himself; now all into tools of every kind and "fixin' things with his hands," this post that was influenced by the butterfly that landed on him in this picture, along with millions of its cousins in the video I watched - BEAUTY is not something this man or other men would really consider to be manly.

But wasn't it God's beautiful creation that got us here in the first place? Didn't the very first man, Adam, perform his first fruitful labor by walking through God's creation and naming the animals? Perhaps something like God's beautiful creation, is something we take for granted, and don't talk nearly enough about?

It was God's creation of something beautiful that helped me realize His reality. When I first witnessed the beautiful love a mother had for her son, as my mom thought my brother might die from drowning, and prayed that the Lord above save our 'little Daniel,' not only did I see the beauty of answered prayer; I also really saw the true love my mother had for her sons. The way she knelt down next to me, and tried to provide comfort, despite worrying about the fate of one of her other sons, lying on the ground with a lifeguard pressing on his chest... is there love more beautiful than that? The way my mom responded in that time of crisis made a permanent impression on a young boy, and her ability to show me just as much love as the little boy she almost lost to the little man-made lake at Bonclarken, showed my God's beautiful love. That realization is a major contribution to the Christian man that I am today.

God's beautiful creation reinforced my faith in a Creator even more, the first time I flew in an airplane. As we soared at 33,000 feet, and I looked out across the horizon of cloud, ocean, and sky, I remember being awestruck! I couldn't help but ask myself, How can anyone ever look out over all of this, and still not believe in God?

God's beautiful creation hit me like a freight train, the night I took my wife out to Steak n' Shake at the end of our "third date;" where I invited myself to the high school prom that my future bride chaperoned, as a teacher at that school. I told my mom, who was also a teacher there, that I was coming with her to the prom, where I knew a certain curly headed redhead would be. Late that night, sitting across from me at a little table in Steak n' Shake , I gazed into the most beautiful bluish white eyes I'd ever seen. On our wedding day, her hair and the bright white wedding dress made her beautiful smile and eyes pop out that much more. Who am I, as a man, if I can't appreciate God's beautiful creation in my own wife?

But do we realize the beauty enough? We get so caught up these days, with the trouble of this world. Perhaps slowing down to appreciate God's beautiful creation, can help remind us to behold; He has overcome the world!

I watched the video about the monarch butterfly migration, and the narrator found a quiet spot to sit, away from all man-made things, and let his own camera recording pick up the sounds of millions of butterflies flitting about and landing in trees. The sound itself was something of beauty; it was very faint, but the more you listened, the more it sounded like a slow trickle of water, growing into a light, steady stream that echoed out into the forest. Do people really think such things as beauty, whether through sight or sound, all came about by some cosmic accident?

I look again at the photo of my son when he was almost seven, and the intricate and many curls of hair on his head. It is said in the Bible, God knows every hair on our head. Then I look at the butterfly perched on his shoulder, in full orange and black and yellow detail. The structure and pattern reflected between both wings... and someone wants to try to tell me that it all just happened that way? What kind of ludicrous amount of faith does one need to believe that malarkey?

There is so much beauty for us to behold, all around us. If it's raining outside, there are few sounds more beautiful than a drizzling rain. The bright sun when it brightens a blue sky; the light reflecting off the muscle and hair of a black horse; the sparkle in a friend or loved one's eyes as you know you've done something to make them smile? There is beauty everywhere. This crazy and wild Information Age we live in now, often detracts from it.

Don't let it. Look beyond the distractions. Slow down and listen. Slow down and look around. Be observant of God's beautiful creation, and marvel. Pay attention, look and listen close, and realize, you and I are all part of it.

The Greenville Cowboy

The Greenville Cowboy

The man would mosey in from the street, Perfect stitching in his boots. He had a slanted smile like Elvis Elbow patches on his suit. He’d walk right up to the the bar,Tell Todd he was ready for round one.He’d nod his head towards the bouncerPretending his hand was a gun. Everyone at Chicora AlleyKnew this cowboy by his first name. They may not know how he got there, But they sure were glad he came. He never aimed to offend you But you’d sure know where he’d stand If someone dissed the bartender Or bad-mouthed the local band. A gentleman by all standards, Whether he’d had one or twenty. If you were looking for one-liners, This cowboy, he had plenty. He was an honest Southern gent; Of that, there was no doubt. A good drink, sports, and politics Were some things he’d talk about. If you never met this Greenvillian But ever talked to his friends downtown, I guarantee they shared a piece of him ‘Cause he was such a joy to be around. So if you stop by Chicora Alley Just be still, and listen close.. You might just hear the Greenville Cowboy Raise a glass to Heaven for a toast. And if you hear the Cowboy’s whisper And hold your glass up in return, Expect the ghost of the Greenville Cowboy To give you a lesson or two to learn. If you’re lucky, he’ll impart his wisdom And order another shot or two, But just like this long poem He still won’t be quite through. Before he tips his ghostly hat And takes the steps down to the street, He’ll belt out a stanza of Johnnie Cash And finish with a bow to his feet. With a wave of his grand hatAnd that shiny-toothed Elvis grin, The Greenville Cowboy’s last words to you: “Until we meet again.”

--- JEF

Beyond the Here and Now

When I hear the word 'Beyond,' I think of two main things; past this present moment (or in the future), and outside boundaries. I think that one problem in society today, around the world, is that technology has put so much information at our fingertips, we get obsessed with the here and now, live for the moment, and forget all about what is outside, or beyond, the here and now.

Please don't misunderstand me; I am not saying that we should ignore the present. I am saying that all of our modern conveniences have helped us not think much about the future or the past. It is very evident in the middle school aged kids I work with on a daily basis. Although I think that is a normal part of growing up, I think the problem is magnified by today's instant information and gratification. Social Media apps, news (especially news with agenda), sports, instant streaming services, and even the modern day conveniences of travel; gas stations on every corner with every snack and refreshment option under the sun...and you can get it all, right now!

But when I hear the word 'beyond,' I can't help but think of a certain character by the name of Buzz Lightyear. His quote, "To Infinity and Beyond..." stands out in my mind. And then that word 'infinity' gets me thinking about the past and the future, and another quote from one of my favorite movies. In the movie Gladiator, the character Maximus motivates his troops when he is a Roman general, by declaring, "Brothers...what we do in life echoes in eternity." We as members of society seem to have grown numb to the fact that if we obsess over the 'here and now,' we lose sight of both the future and the past.

From a self-defense perspective, if I only focus on what is right in front of me, sure; if I am adequately trained or adequately equipped, or both - I might still have a chance to defend myself. But if I pay attention to my surroundings, and the path in front of me, I can see threats early, and be even more prepared to defend myself... or even avoid having to fight altogether. And if I have past experiences with danger, and the predators out there that might have wanted to do me harm, and survived that enconter - then I can use my experience to help me in the current situation. But only paying attention to the here and now, is what some people would call foolish, as it relates to personal safety or self-defense.

From an educational perspective, what exactly can we learn from the present moment? We can make quick judgements on our current situation, and we can make immediate observations and descriptions. We can enjoy the moment - ah, but that's it, isn't it? You see, never before in history has so much access to instant gratification, and pleasure, been available 'in the moment.' Perhaps this instant gratification and pleasure could be used to distract us from things like the future and the past...hmmm, there is some food for your thoughts. But I digress... obviously much more can be learned from an educational perspective, when we look back at the past experiences of others (other peoples/ nations/ groups, causes, events, etc), and then apply such important information when planning for the future, or even - setting goals for the future.

From a spiritual perspective, if we only live for the moment, what good does that do for where I intend to spend eternity? Obviously, if you are an atheist, this doesn't really mean anything to you, so you can ignore this whole paragraph. But for those of any faith, eternity is all about the future. What decisions can one even hope to make to impact their future, if they are only concentrating on the 'here and now?' And of course, as a Christian, we are to always look forward to eternity with our Father in Heaven... and in order to do that, we have to learn about what Jesus Christ did for us in the past. I don't know about you, but eternal damnation has awful promises attached to it; I think I will look forward to Christ's return. And if you don't know what happened to bring other Christians to a similar thought process, might I suggest opening the Bible. That is not a sarcastic statement; I mean you really should, if curiosity has you thinking beyond this current moment.

If you're not religious, then let's look at this from a secular perspective. For you, personally, do you care about others around you? If so, then it is time to put the cell phone away for a minute, and stop taking so many selfies. It is time to take a look at the people 'beyond' your current position, and think about how your presence affects those people. What can you do to impact any one of those people, in a positive way, in the future? What can you teach someone, to help them in their current situation, to learn from your experiences in the past? Have you wondered where you came from? What about your family? Have you ever wondered why certain people you know or have known, think or thought the way they do? You have to step outside yourself to find out such things. Our culture has unfortunately become self-absorbed due to the convenience of so much information at our fingertips. We can still enjoy those luxuries. We can still use such convenient tools to help us learn.

But every now and then, perhaps we all need to unplug. Perhaps we need to step away from the mirror. Perhaps we need to pick our eyes up and gaze into the eyes of our neighbor. Whether you are religious or not, if we all want to love our neighbor, we might just have to be willing to learn from our past, enjoy the moment, and plan for the future. Take positive steps in all three fields of time, and see just how much better the world can be.

My little Words of Wisdom for today -

God bless you all.

JEF

Fury Over the Temple

From John, Chapter 2

13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”[ c ]

18 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”

19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name.[ d ] 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. 25 He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.

Right there in the scripture, "the temple he had spoken of was his body."

Medical mandates require people to violate their body against their will. I've written before that our bodies are not ours, but GOD'S TEMPLE. Let's see; if I read this bit of scripture right, Jesus had a pretty 'furious' reaction when he saw people desecrating the Holy temple that he had grown to love throughout history - when His people HONORED the temple. The Bible goes into numerous examples of the Jewish people, when doing what was right in the name of the Lord, of how they honored God by taking careful measure in building the temple, and how they carried out regular worship in the temple, the way it was meant to be.

Yet Jesus finds people selling things in the temple like it's a market. Sounds a little to me, like Christ would be upset if, say a governing body or conglomerate of billion dollar corporations, took advantage of coercing people to take a forced injection, so that those corporations MARKET off what they are doing to GOD'S TEMPLE (all in the name of 'science' of course). Do you see what I am getting at here?

"Zeal for your house will consume me," I see in the disciples' own recollection. So it would seem that we had plenty of warning against desecrating a temple, or God's house, for the sake of profit.

Does anyone else get it?

Look at what mankind, God's own people, even (the Jewish Sanhedrin), decided to do to Jesus' actual physical body! Go back and read what Jesus went through at the crucifixion. In man's own sinful nature, we put holes in Him; we suffocated Him; we beat Him; we forced pain upon His head; we mocked Him; we shamed Him. It isn't like we haven't had an ultimate example of what not to do. Society, in all it self-righteousness, can judge the acts of Hitler, or Mao, or Stalin, due to sheer numbers. But desecrate, humiliate, and mutilate a radical 'blasphemer' in the name of man's law - and it's ok. We wouldn't dare want to acknowledge the possibility that Jesus is who He said He is, now would we?

I, for one, know that I am rotten, and fallen in sin, and not worth saving - if not for God's mercy and Grace. Therefore, I take something like scripture seriously when it tells me that my body is actually God's temple. Mankind's governing authorities have overstepped their bounds, and I will shamelessly pronounce that until the day I die. The sheer audacity any one man, or group of men (or women, or both) to tell me that I will take some unproven substance into my body or else - very few things make my blood boil more.

And if it makes my blood boil, and it's not my body/temple - but God's?

Hmmm, I wonder how he feels about all of this scamdemic? Look; there was a pandemic, sure.

But the truth about the whole virus, to this day, has not been told. Inconsistent statistics at best are STILL COMING OUT. And let's see, who benefits from literally BILLIONS of vaccines administered to hundreds of countries? Gosh, nobody had anything at all to gain or make the most from the dreaded 'worst virus ever.' I say that with the utmost sarcasm.

I wrote this today, because I want people to just try to understand why the whole Vax mandate gets me angry. And if certain things happen down the pipe that I think still might?

Then I've only begun to flip over some tables.

Food for thought...

Y'all take a stand for your temple.

Jesus and the Sword

From Luke Chapter 22:

35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?”

“Nothing,” they answered.

36 He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37 It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’[ b ]; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”

38 The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.”

“That’s enough!” he replied.

A good friend, mentor, fellow author, and martial arts instructor just published an entire book on the subject of Christ and self-defense. I'd be glad to point anyone to the work if you're interested. But I came across this section of scripture in chapter 22 of the book of Luke, and I thought I would share my thoughts. These are not fact or God-inspired truth on the matter, but my interpretation based on real world experience and circumstances, and mostly - my opinion.

However, I also think someone could glean personal theological and spiritual curiosity from such a subject matter, and maybe even something I have to say.

So let's talk about swords.

The 'sword' itself brings to mind so many ideas and principles inspired by history. Believers in God's Word, of course, might remember a time when Sunday school teachers took kids through 'Sword drills.' Kids would memorize scripture and be quizzed on it in drill fashion, and that is how they learned God's 'Truth' - God's SWORD or the spirit.

(From Ephesians 6: 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.)

This, of course, is talking about swords in a metaphorical sense. Nothing cuts through the lies and deceptions of this world like God's Word.

But the scripture from Luke that inspired this post? It is obviously talking about actual swords. Go back and read the excerpt. Note how Jesus originally told His followers, when they first went out, they were to take nothing but the sandals on their feet and the clothes they already wore. But I don't think a lot of people realize, that was while their teacher was here on Earth, and it was before His "time had come." In the words from chapter 22 of Luke, he is reminding them of that time, but speaking about the times to come. He is talking about how the gospel message will have to travel much farther. He is talking about what His followers may need for the mission they are about to take on, once He ascends to Heaven. And if you are familiar with the character of Jesus at all from the scriptures, you know he never said anything 'just because.'

So why would he mention trading in a cloak for a sword? Just why in the world would His followers need a sword 'or two?'

Could it possibly be because Jesus knew that His disciples would face the evil that already existed in this world - and not just because they served in Jesus' name?

People like to throw the whole saying, 'turn the other cheek,' around like it is some end-all be-all to all scenarios of potential violence. They don't stop to realize, for just one second, that Jesus certainly meant to never return violence for an insult or a challenge. One could even take it farther and say violence should not be the first thing to resort to resolve conflict or problems with other people, either. But let's think about the other situations traveling disciples for Jesus would encounter on the road, back in their day.

Perhaps, a wise holy man like the Son of God knew that evil men existed, and knew that robbers, thieves, and ruffians may try to harm His disciples on the road. There are several places in scripture where it is obvious God doesn't just expect people to sit by and let their home and property and loved ones get taken. There is almost an expectation for someone (the 'man of the house' or the leader of the home for starters) to do something about such threats. People who intend random violence on passersby such as the disciples were a real threat back then, just as they are now. The sword was the same answer for such threats back then that we might use a gun for now.

Perhaps a wise holy man like the Son of God knew that animals of a predatory nature could encounter any one of the disciples individually on their mission. After the fall in the Garden of Eden, wild animals and beasts of various kinds are mentioned, and chapter 26 of the Old Testament book of Leviticus even goes so far as to say this, in reference to what could happen to someone who disobeys God's Word:

"22 I will send wild animals against you, and they will rob you of your children, destroy your cattle and make you so few in number that your roads will be deserted."

This is not to say that God would smite the disciples with wild animal attacks, but perhaps conditions after the fall, and especially after the great flood in the time of Noah, set such possible dangerous conditions in place. Ask anyone who lives in the wilds of Africa, or Alaska, or the Rockies, if they just roam the territory of predators without any form of self-defense; I'll wait.

Perhaps a wise holy man like the Son of God knew that men of opposing religions and faith would encounter the disciples, or descendants of disciples, and attempt to use coercion and violence, to force their religion on them. Perhaps the Son of God who was there with God 'in the beginning' understands that some men, in the very nature that God gave them, are inclined to act out in defense of themselves or someone else, and something like a sword might be necessary for such action.

Now here is where I really speculate:

Perhaps mankind has taken something, such as the very means of self-defense, and even 'righteous violence' - and corrupted it and ruined it to the point that it is hard to see how anything about the violence caused by 'the sword' could ever be found by believers of today as wholesome and right.

We all have to answer for our sins at some point. It can either be in the End Times and final judgment, or it can be when one chooses to repent of their sinful life here on Earth and accept the free gift of God's grace through the blood of Jesus Christ. Because I work in law enforcement, should I ever have to use violence to protect a potential victim of violence (I've been fortunate to never have to use more than an intermediate weapon), I will still ask for forgiveness, because I know it is still wrong to murder - and the family of a violent offender could very well think I 'murdered' their loved one. Although many would say it was a righteous 'kill' - I would still see it as something ugly in the eyes of God; whether it's against his actual commandments or not.

I am like my friend/author I mentioned earlier; I get frustrated with the mixed message set by a phrase like 'turn the other cheek' and blatant passivity or pacifism. Perhaps if you just read this post, it can give you a different set of eyes, and help you realize...in a fallen, dark world, for people who are out in it - sometimes 'sword drills' just don't seem like they're enough.

Onward Christian Soldier

First of all, I thought I'd post this photo of a page from my latest book, to put in perspective just how much writing I have done over the past 8 years or so. To see it listed out like this, makes me shake my head. And yet, it helps me know, I am well on my way in my 'Christian mission,' in much the same way that my grandmother would have described my grandfather's march as a real Christian soldier.

Don't get me wrong; I do not intend to be a pastor (though I have not ruled out chaplain), and although my grandfather began a mission as a minister, and that journey took twists and turns and strange traumatic experience after experience - he did not fulfill his mission to be a pastor the way he wanted to. But he did do it, the way God wanted him to. My grandmother wrote it down herself, in a book about the family heritage of Abbeville, SC; although he didn't get to serve an entire career as a minister like he set out to do, when he was old and gray, in a nursing home for veterans and the mentally ill, he still led Sunday School and chapel services for the nursing home, and served God on a special mission until the day he was hospitalized in a bed for good... so almost right up until death.

And although I have had much to do with the organization of my thoughts to page after page, especially regarding faith in Christ, I have prayed hard and often that God lead me on this mission; that my mission for Him is done for His glory - not mine.

Remember this: Ephesians 6:12

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

This is a battle that is not fought on the tangible battlefields you see in the historical epics like Braveheart, or Gladiator, or The Patriot. This is the battlefield for hearts and minds. If the words I put on a page or on a digital screen can make just one person stop and think about what Jesus did for them, I am doing my part to serve in the mission for Christ. My part is just one tiny, miniscule part. But what if believers everywhere, remember this verse, and remember what Jesus said to His followers before He left this world? What if we all strive to make disciples? Are you doing your part? Am I doing mine?

Well I will certainly try. My keyboard is just one of the weapons. Ha - reminds me of an old blog post I wrote about 'the keyboard or the AR 15;' I tend to be a lot better with the keyboard... odd coming from a police officer, I know. Reaching the hearts and minds, one student at a time; OOPORTUNITY is yet another weapon to take advantage of. Passing on the desire to do such, in whatever way produces the most fruit, is my goal. They say every mission has an objective; the mission is clearly stated in the book of Matthew.

Matthew 28:18-20 - 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

So like the old hymn says, "Onward Christian soldiers, marching off to war -

With the cross of Jesus, going on before!"

Choose your best weapon, and keep marching on.

Horns of Hope

James sat on the edge of the motel bed. He'd just about given up on life. The revolver sat out on the nightstand in his motel room, just within reach. With his head buried in his hands, leaning way over at the waist, he cocked his head and stared over at the gun, but tried to shake the vision of it out of his eyes. He grunted and growled at himself; why did he have to choose this profession? He felt so alone...but he sure loved the open road.

Yet the company (and its country) that he contracted his rig to drive for had just given him an ultimatum:

Take the shot, or else.

James was brought up by his single mom, after they'd lost his father when James was just three years old. But his dad had been a pastor, and he taught his wife everything there was to know about the Bible. At least, that is what it seemed like to James; that his mother knew scripture backward and forward. And she'd taught James that nobody could force him to do anything with his body, be it take a drink or a needle or a cigarette.

"The body is God's temple, son. You let him tell you what can go in and out of it. And don't you let anyone ever tell you otherwise," she'd said on multiple occasions.

James was convinced his mother meant things like this vaccine needle, too. She said as much on her deathbed before dying of the Rona a year ago. James wasn't some pushover who just believed everything the TV said about this shot or that shot; this virus or that virus. That is why this mandate was hitting him so hard. He wasn't even sure his mother would've taken it, if she'd lived long enough to see the rise of the mandates.

He didn't quite know what to do. The company he'd been driving for had used him for a few years now, but ever since the Rona hit, he had to take a cut in pay, and deliveries and midnight runs had been drying up anyway. Now he stood to lose his job, and it didn't look like the thieves of freedom were going away easy. On top of all that, the bank threatened to take his rig due to missed payments, thanks to James picking up his mom's medical bills when she was still alive. The mandates for this blasted shot seemed to pop up everywhere overnight. The country just to the south of his motel and the highway it sat beside was supposed to be a beacon of freedom for the world, yet thanks to its corrupt politicians, its citizens weren't faring much better. Nothing felt right about any of this.

Yet there James sat in the hour just after dawn, staring back at his gun. His parents were both gone. He had no brothers or sisters, no real family to call his own anymore. He tried to remember the last time he ran into any cousins or aunts or uncles. The Rona had messed up all of his hope for family, so he had just kept trucking when he could. His rig, he called her Old Olga, was really all he had left. And now, he might not get to enjoy that anymore... unless he took the shot.

To Hell with that, he thought to himself, and he grabbed the revolver. He held it up to his head but couldn't put his finger on the trigger. Something held him back. Tears came out of his eyes as he squinted real hard, trying to fight whatever invisible force kept him from following through with the worst of plans.

It was faint at first. But the soft long honk seemed to ring familiar through the thin walls of the motel room. It was loud enough to cause James to lower the gun and hold it in his lap. Then the noise began to crescendo. James ran over to the window. He stood there shirtless, with nothing but a pair of jeans on from the day before, and he pushed the curtain aside to see what he could see.

There in the distance, were headlights in a line, far down the highway that seemed to head right for the motel before curving at the motel's corresponding exit. The headlights came closer, and the line of them actually clashed a little bit with the early morning daylight. But the line of vehicles were rolling towards James, and the cacophony of horns blasting got louder and louder. James knew that sound because it had been music to his ears ever since he was a small boy, riding in his mom's back seat, pumping his arm up and down to get the truckers to blow their horns. And as the trucks blowing their horns came closer and closer, in the longest convoy of eighteen wheelers he'd ever seen - James had never before seen anything that called him forward with such power.

As the two trucks that led the line of mechanical juggernauts got closer, James could see one word strapped across the monster grill of the truck closest to him.

Freedom

James looked down at the gun in his hand, and he tucked it in the back of his jeans. He shook off the burden and weight of the depressing desperation he had felt crawling into his brain, like some demon slowly trying to convince him to do the worst - and he ran to his bag and grabbed a flannel shirt, buttoned it, and grabbed his keys and wallet from the dresser. He threw open the door, locked it, and ran over to Old Olga. He hopped up in the cab and assumed the position so iconic with drivers everywhere. He flipped on the CB, and he decided to start up some chatter. But he didn't need to start up anything; truckers were cutting in on the channel, one after the other. Finally James came over the CB with the mic held out several inches from his mouth, "Breaker, breaker; this is Widow's Son coming in, come back?"

A mysterious voice came in over his CB radio and replied, as if a divine voice was in on his dark secret of longing to leave this world that had just been interrupted; "Copy that, Widow's Son....whereya been hiding, trucker? This here is the Freedom Convoy, and she'll be passing through these parts for the next hour or so."

"Freedom Convoy, huh? Well I could use some freedom. Where's this convoy heading, anyway?" the Widow's Son asked.

Another voice cut in, "Rolling on, son. We're just gonna keep rolling on 'til either the good Lord calls us Home - or they lift these godless mandates. Now you comin' or what, boy?"

James checked his gauges. He did what truckers do, and gave Old Olga some revs to let her smoke stacks billow for a moment. He backed up his rig, towing no trailer because his company hadn't given him one to tow for days now, and he guided his rig out of the motel parking lot. Pretty soon he was rolling down the ramp, about to merge with the line of trucks still extending back as far as the eye could see. As he got closer, the driver of the truck closest to him passed and saluted him, and James pulled on the cord to his big rig's horn to give a couple of short bursts as a gesture of good will. Horns behind him honked in sync and sporadically to James's driver side's rear, as if to welcome him to a cause much greater than James thought possible. James paused from talking on the radio and just listened as he merged with the other trucks. The loud ruckus of horns blaring up and down the line was one of the sweetest sounds to James's ears. Just minutes before, he sat on a bed, ready to take his own life because he thought there was no hope for his life.

But now, as James suddenly felt the urge to listen to some old fashioned American rock and roll to accompany the horns of hope that surrounded him, James found something he could hope for. The mysterious force that held his hand and kept him from pulling that trigger in the motel room was God; of that, James was certain. And deep down in his heart of hearts, James knew that God gave him a second chance and gave him hope... hope against tyranny... hope against desperation and being alone... hope for earning a living again... hope... for freedom.

The Freedom Trailer

If you pay attention to news outside of the mainstream, you may or may not be familiar with a trending movement along the border of Canada and the US right now; the Freedom Convoy of 2022. For those who are not familiar, the country of Canada has had some of the most stringent and ridiculous, tyrannical mandates on vaccines since this whole debacle started. It was announced by their not so illustrious leader, Justin Trudeau, that all truckers and employees of companies traveling across to other provinces must present vaccine passports, should those provinces require it. Thus started the amazing, hundreds of miles long, thousands of truckers strong, convoy of eighteen wheelers that refused to deliver their loads as long as these tyrannical mandates were in place. Police in places like Alberta, Canada, even pulled many truckers over, and called tow truck services to tow the trailers and their trucks away...only to have the tow truck drivers jump in line and "roll on highway, roll on along!"

One can imagine how frustrated this makes tyrannical leaders who have globalist control in mind. Suddenly, all the division they worked so hard to sow amongst the people, is backtracking in the name of freedom. Until the governments find ways to provide mass transit to cargo and goods on a wider scale, without human drivers - the tyrants have run into a problem. And I salute this stand for freedom. I hope they continue to hold that line, and keep rolling on.

But the freedom for truckers to do what they do, and the freedom for the markets to do what they do, is not near as important as the trailer I see on my drive to work every day. Right off of old Highway 123, between Easley, SC and Clemson, SC, there stands a trailer. It is an old truck trailer that I assume was used to transport loads of goods at one point or another. This trailer has been on this property overlooking the highway at least since I was a PE teacher in the early 2000s and working out past Clemson. And stretched out across the side of this trailer, in big red letters on a white backdrop, it says plainly for all the world to see: JESUS IS LORD. There are even some small lights on the ground that shine up at that same trailer once the sun goes down. It is perhaps one of the most unremarkable icons at first glance, and yet the message is as solid as diamond.

I've written before about how it is through Christ Jesus that we are free. Whoever keeps this trailer on display, has given me yet another sign of hope. You see, those who take control through tyranny, would never let such a display stand. Those who are offended by Jesus, cannot allow messages that take away the lordship of the almighty State. Those who would take away freedom, and lock loved ones in quarantine or remove loved ones from houses, would not stand for such a sign of freedom. Those who represent something like godless communism, would certainly never allow something like freedom of speech, or freedom of religion.

Don't you see? As long as I get to go up and down that highway, and I can see that trailer that says JESUS IS LORD, there is a sure sign that tyranny hasn't won yet. As long as I can see that trailer, that may have even driven in some truckers' convoy years ago, and it has that large evangelistic banner displayed for all those who travel between Greenville, South Carolina and Clemson - there is a sign that tyranny hasn't won yet!

So I hope and pray, those Canadian truckers keep rolling on for freedom, until freedom from ungodly mandates rings through their land. But in the meantime, henceforth I shall dub this fine old trailer off Highway 123 as the 'Freedom Trailer' - for it is Jesus who makes us free; not any institution or dictatorship created by man!

She Couldn't Wait to Tell Someone!

I am so excited to share good news, especially in my first blog post of 2022!

I work as a school resource officer. So far this year, I've been blessed with sharing my testimony with several kids from my school outside the classroom setting. On one of those outings, I remember one girl in particular who wanted to talk to the cooperating teacher from the Christian Learning Center because she didn't understand enough about salvation. She missed out on some of my testimony, but then I saw her again at FCA. She did get to hear me tell the story of our twin sons, and the power of prayer, and how I do have one son here on Earth by the grace of God. And she told me thanks for sharing my story at FCA that morning.

Fast forward about a month.

The young lady gets out of her truck in front of the school during drop-off, and she makes a bee line for me. I told her the token good morning, but there was this glow in her smile. She was excited, and as soon as I got out the words 'good morning,' she told me excitedly, in front of a few other students -

"Guess what, Officer Fort. I got saved this weekend!"

She went on and described to me how she went on a youth retreat to the mountains, and something made her feel like it was the time to walk down in front of people and give her life to Jesus. She was so happy, and she told me to have a good rest of the day. I thanked her for sharing the good news with me.

Then I remembered Matthew 9:27-31. When Jesus healed two blind men, and they realized they could see, they could not contain their excitement. Although Jesus told them not to tell anyone at that time, they couldn't keep it a secret.

I don't think anyone will hold it against me if I say, it was really neat that she knew of all people at the school she could tell that news to without feeling judged in any way, there was old Officer Fort. But that silly pride in me takes a back seat to the excitement and sheer joy on this student's face.

Now I am no theologian, but I have a feeling this instance from Matthew, when Jesus told the men who could finally see, not to spread the good word - Jesus used a little early reverse psychology. I have a feeling He knew that those men who had been blind for so long, wouldn't be able to resist the urge to tell others. His little reversal probably just ensured the joyful telling of their story. And eons later, the young student that inspired this blog post felt compelled in the same fashion.

I'm glad she wanted to tell me. I hope and pray she gladly told others about her weekend; I know the joy in her smile at least told all of her friends, something was different.

But most of all, I am glad I got to see that the work of people like that cooperating teacher is showing fruit. Reaching the world for Christ, one person at a time...that really is the ultimate goal.

Thank you Lord, for letting me see the words from your great story come to life.

An Anniversary Year in Review

Instead of my usual Year in Review post I do every late December or New Year's Eve, I thought I'd take a moment to reflect on the 20th year of being married to the most generous, big hearted woman I know.

We've had quite a journey together over the past 20 1/2 years of knowing each other, and I cannot imagine my life without my wife. After 20 years of getting to know how to push each other's buttons, how to pick each other up when we're down, how to offer just the right words or just the right touch when life throws those curve balls - I have to say, I think Rebecca and I have really learned how to tackle life as a team.

Although our spiritual journey as a married couple has been Topsy-turvy, this 20th year has really been a sign of our closeness with God and each other. From listening to Audible Bible chapters with my wife while taking a day trip through the mountains, to laying down beside each other at night discussing the latest chapters read, to sitting down and watching episodes of The Chosen - I am truly happy to be our spiritual leader, despite all my temperamental flaws and stubbornness.

After 20 years of marriage, we built a home (figuratively speaking), raised our son to know God, and have given a nice, warm home to more than a few furry friends. We finally found our places in the professional world, that suit us and our personalities perfectly. We have come to terms with the changing political climate of our world together, and we will face whatever new crazy politics come our way together as well.

We've celebrated my writing accomplishments one book at a time. We've celebrated Jay's milestones one year at a time. We've celebrated new successes and progress in my wife's teaching. We've celebrated having a son in the military, who has taken after his mom's dad in so many ways, and taken on responsibilities in this world with his own initiative. We've celebrated arrivals and birthdays of a niece and nephews.

We have struggled with financial stress but come out on the winning end. We've struggled with the reality of age, for both ourselves and our parents; time is the great equalizer, and teacher of humility. We've learned that keeping up with the Jones's is for the birds; we'd rather just be the Fort's...because we are who we are - what you see is what you get.

Take us as we are, or don't...but we have each other, we have family, we have friends, and we have the Lord.

Yep, 2021 brought all sorts of strange world news, so I'd rather not review any of that stuff. Instead, I will just thank the good Lord for spending just a little less than half my life with the perfect girl...the perfect girl for ME.

20 years? Man, where'd all those years go? Good Lord willing, we will be able to celebrate another 20 or so. Thank you Rebecca Fort, for loving me and being my life companion. You take good care of me, and I hope you know how much I appreciate it. I love you.