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What an amazing celebration!  Revisit what happened last July 24, 2009 through this short video.  Happy birthday, Victory!

I learned a leadership lesson years ago from Ferdie Cabiling.

He told it through a story.

“I was about to meet a man who was rich and powerful.  He came to church with his family.  However, our meeting wasn’t just for fellowship.  It was counseling  wherein I needed to say certain things – truth coupled with love, nevertheless, serious and poignant truth.

I got to the restaurant early, gave my credit card to the waiter, giving stringent instructions that I was to pay for the bill.

Why did I do that?  The man I am about to meet with is used to paying for all the bills whenever he would meet with people.  I wanted to have the freedom to be straightforward and pointblank if I needed to not feeling the need to walk on eggs.

And straightforward I was.

Thereafter, I prayed for him, signed the bill (to his surprise) and left our meeting.”

This I heard years ago and stuck with me for the longest time.

Daniel was faced with a similar scenario.

King Belshazzar had a dream… handwriting on the wall that none of the magicians and astrologers could interpret.

The queen remembered Daniel, that he was one in the time of King Nebuchadnezzar that could interpret the most difficult of dreams.

The King called for Daniel, offered him the purple robe, gold chain around his neck, and position to be the third highest ruler in the kingdom.

Daniel’s response?

“You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else.  Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.”

After which, Daniel told the plain simple truth that the writing meant that the King was going to be judged for all he had done and that time was short.  No qualms, no hesitations, reluctance.

As His people, God has called to tell the truth, represent truth and live truth without equivocation nor ambivalence.  Because HE is the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE, we are to live it, share it and speak it when necessary.  That probably would be every single day…

Walter Walker shared an amazing message tonight at the 5 pm service at the Fort.

Amazing is the word.

It was simple yet heartfelt and powerful!  I loved the way he spoke – conversational and relaxed.  It was like sitting in his kitchen table and listening him talk about Steve and Rice when they were in University.’

A few thoughts from his message…

- Do what only you can do.  We’ve been wired a certain way and there are things only you can do in His kingdom.  Never say that your contribution is very small.  No one can judge that.  Time can only tell.

From a church of 30 people came some of the best of the best – Rice and Steve included.

- Do not esteem what is worthy and not worthy.  You and I will never know which situation or event or person will become significant in the future.

Walter Walker exemplified this.  He did what he felt God called him to do.  He did it with all his heart and boom!  You get some of the finest men of God in the kingdom of God today.  They weren’t always like that but because of the foundations that have been set, these men are who they are today.

- 90% of success is showing up.  Love this.  Just keep moving forward.  Never get tired or weary.  Just show up everytime and God will show up in your situation.

- Rootedness is exclusive. You can’t be rooted and grounded in God’s word while at the same time being rooted in bitterness, lust, greed, pride or fear.  As Jesus said in the Parable of the Sower, one type of root (the weeds) will choke out the other type of root (the Word).
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Below are some of the very interesting pictures of Steve, Rice and Walter together with the other men he discipled back in the 70’s.

Walter's Discipleship Group

Read Dennis Sy’s blog about “What’s It?”

Great blog!  Here’s an excerpt…

I was being interviewed last Thursday and was asked “What is the IT factor of Victory?”, “What is the magic that keeps this movement alive and growing?”

The answer I gave was “THE CULTURE THAT THE LEADERS CREATE”

1. Leadership is not positional.

2. Empowered leaders

3. Humility.

4. Multi-generational thinking.

To read the whole article, click here.

One of the toughest things in the world to face is when you are falsely accused.

Not sure if that has ever happened to you.  It has to me.

I’ve learned a principle years ago to never become defensive.  Before I share the principle, let me tell you first what I read this morning.

Scenario: People who were upset with the 3 Hebrew boys (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) wanted to take them out… literally to take them out.

They tricked King Neby to issue a decree that everyone should bow down to the statue he built.  Non-compliance would result in death.

But because the 3 Hebrew boys served God and God alone and not any other gods, they refused to bow down.

This made King Neby ‘furious with rage’ (Dan. 3:13).  He sounded pretty mad.  He gave them another chance to do so but they once again refused.

Their response?

“O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it and he will rescue us from your hand.
But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Dan. 3:16-18)

What courage!

Where did that courage come from?

Came from a confidence that God was their Defender – Someone bigger and more powerful.

The principle?

If I am in the wrong, no need to defend myself.  I AM WRONG!  Can’t be defensive.

If I am in the right, no need to defend myself.  Someone bigger and more powerful can vindicate me.

Plus, sooner or later, people will know the truth and that very truth will set me free.