NOTE: My next post will be on National Treasures II (from the previous post). Check back next week. This blog is dedicated to what God did in downtown Dallas. As a sports fan, I love to hear the play by play from some commentators. Notice I didn’t say ALL of them but certainly some of them. In the NFL, two of the very best were John Madden & Pat Summeral. Arguably, one of the greatest rivals in any sports for years was between my beloved Washington Redskins vs Dallas Cowboys.

WORD OF THE DAY: In the twang and theology of Willie Nelson “Momma’s Don’t Let Your Babies Grow UP to be COWBOYS!” 🙂 It was reported and believed when our Nation’s Capital had the highest homocide rate in the country for a decade that ironically the two least days of chaos in the Capital City were not Christmas Day or Easter Sunday but the two times the Skins played Dallas! Wow – that will preach!!

Without question, I believe I was born wearing burgandy and gold and my entire life in grade school I heard all the jokes: “The reason TEXAS STADIUM has a hole in its roof is so God can watch His favorite team!” I wish there were a “roll your eyes key” or “gag me” button on this computer!! LOL – Yes, I have heard them all. The rival games of the past were something to behold but two of the worst words I recall as a child were usually uttered more often than not from the iconic voice of Pat Summeral. The two words that haunted me like no other – drum roll please…..”TOUCHDOWN DALLAS!” To me, that was as poetic as a crazy classmate streaking his nails down our grade school chalk board. It usually followed a score from Staubach (Annapolis Naval grad), a dazzling display from Dorsett or Danny White deep to Drew Pearson. Too often it was right after Aikman found Irvin in the endzone or Emmit Smith for a 50 yard TD.

Well a week ago Monday, March 21, I had the privilege to return and touchdown in Dallas via Southwest Airlines to Love Field (ironically the same airport) that President John F Kennedy landed on “Air Force One” on his last ever flight. We were in town for a week and we hit the ground running. My flight was on time leaving Baltimore but delayed leaving Birmingham, AL trying to get to Dallas and when it finally landed at 4 PM I had to get to my room, shower, put on a tuxedo and be at the black tie dinner I was invited to attend/preach by 5:15 PM clear across town. You do the math – it was GRACE we pulled it off!

It was a whirlwind week and God really blessed. It was my honor to connect with Dr Sam Ming, Founder of www.LWFCI.org and he has ministered at every Olympics since 1984 games in Los Angeles, CA. He is a anointed soul winner and a man with a mission and this dear brother knows everyone but more importantly knows Jesus and Jesus knows him! Dr Ming invited me to go with his team to London, England for the 2012 Olympic Games as an International Evangelism Director. Dr Ming invited me to speak at the Texas Christian Athelete of the Year Banquet at the beautiful Dallas-Fort Worth Marriott hotel at a black tie dinner with over 1,000 present. Nine time gold medalist and OLYMPIAN OF THE CENTURY – Carl Lewis was the keynote speaker and I was asked to preach as well before the packed crowd. God showed up!

Later than evening, Dr Ming graciously asked me to get on an elevator with he and Carl Lewis and go up 24 flights in the Dallas Airport Marriott to the Presidential Suite to film a television commercial with him, Carl Lewis and two other gold medalists! As the elevator was skyrocketing upward two tunes danced in my head – AMAZING GRACE and the theme from the Jefferson’s – “MOVIN ON UP!” The television commercials will air in over 60 countries in the days ahead leading up to the Olympic Games and it was an honor and humbling to say the least with men whom have not only won gold but love God. Truly, the Lord sees fit to use the “foolish to confound the wise (1 Cor 1:27).” One of my favorite life verses. A special shout out to my friend, Dr David Allbritton for making the connection for me with this anointed group. If you would like to partner with us to London next year contact me or www.LWFCI.org and we would LOVE to have you join us.

On Thursday, March 24, 2011 I had the privilege to preach at First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas at their Christian Academy in the Spurgeon Auditorium. It was a long-time private prayer of mine to preach there and immediately following the message I got off the platform and a 50 year old man (staff member) approached me and stuck out his hand, looked me straight in the eye and grabbed my hand with a firm grip and at this point I was convinced he was going to correct my grammar or point out something that dissapointed him (after all – if walls could talk Jesus, Spurgeon and W.A. Criswell) were listening and he said: “Frank, I want to be the first to tell you that was hands down, one of the most powerful sermons I have ever heard!” Praise the Lord!

That afternoon, I was fortunate to take Ruth and baby, Andrew back to the $1.1 Billion dollar COWBOYS STADIUM and we got the VIP tour and were able to go on the field. Just because I am a Skins’ fan doesn’t man that I can’t be appreciative of other’s success. Read that again – That is a sermon in a sentence. Feel free to read my two previous posts regarding “Back to the “Big D” and touring Texas Stadium from last year. Andrew had a blast running on the field and it really was a privilege to be on that iconic field and share it with my family. Blue, white and grey may not be my colors but it is by far the most beautiful stadium in the world #justsaying

The very next day on Friday, March 25, 2011, FOX NEWS asked me to return as a guest while in the “Big D” and tape LIVE via remote from Dallas to NYC to discuss on a panel “Is Hell A Reality?” Last month I shared my initial experience on Fox News in NY and this time I was to report to the 24th floor (one block from where Lee Harvey Oswald shot JFK) from the Dallas Book Depository. The producer in TX was putting on my lapel mic and then placing my SECRET SERVICE ear piece to hear host Lauren Green in New York and when they counted down – “LIVE in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1” the producer (like Elvis) left the room with me alone on a chair all by myself and the color monitor that was just displaying the host and panel members in NY went completely blank. As Bro Junior Hill would say: “That will bless ya!” At that moment I was thinking “Houston We Have a Problem” but then I remembered I was in downton Dallas 🙁

Instantly, I prayed silently in my head “God I need you” while we were now on camera LIVE. My pastor always said: “Our dissapointments are Divine Appointments.” Plus, I live by the motto: “When you’re down to nothing – God is UP to something!” At that moment, I felt like a mini Ray Charles and Billy Graham all in one. How? Blind but with Biblical boldness. Ruth was in the next room praying and she told me later she was on the couch of the “green room” of FOX NEWS studios on her knees asking God that He would give me power, anointing and boldness. Friends, she is the Proverbs 31 woman. In many professions folks often see the man on stage but fail to realize the prayers and presence of a wife behind the scenes. Truly, “many who are first will be last.” Thank God for grace and Ruth’s prayers! Like Balboa, when the bell sounded I came out swinging. Not against an individual but a mindset that isn’t aligned in God’s Word. Hell is not a myth but a real place for those who have never trusted Christ as Lord and Savior. HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN? http://www.billygraham.org/specialsections/steps-to-peace/steps-to-peace.asp

On Sunday, March 27, Dr Sam Ming (the greats are gracious) invited me to come back and preach at the board meeting for the Lay Witness For Christ International at 7PM in Dallas, TX. We had a time and heard some wonderful testimonies, powerful singing and I shared a message on THE BLESSEDNESS OF BROKENESS (ironically the title of our new book coming out this summer). Dr Tim Lee, Evangelist Randy Hogue, Andy Williams – drummer to CASTING CROWNS, David Edwards, World Wrestling Champ Lex Luger, Evangelist Jamey Ragle, Martin Houston – RB to 1992 Alabama Football National Champions, Acton Bowen, Shelley Hendrix, Hollywood actress Brenda Epperson and a couple other surprise authors are all writing a chapter in my new book. GO GOD!

Following my sermon, one precious woman wrote me the sweetest note and God is certainly strong when I am weak. Actually, we are never “stronger” when we are weak and depending completely on Him. My body was coming down with a virus and I am guilty of pushing my body too hard at times. Just last month I was in TEN states in SEVEN days and was invited to preach 18 times in one week. We saw 297 salvations in one week. It is ALL God! COMMITMENT comes with a price (then again – so does COMPLACENCY and COWARDICE). I was invited to have breakfast with legendary ZIG ZIGLAR on Monday morning but had to decline because we were scheduled to be at DAYSTAR TV www.Daystar.com studios to tape “Celebration” with Marcus & Joni Lamb on their world-wide Christian network airing to over 110 countries. They are the second largest, fastest growing Christian Network in the world and Marcus and Joni are precious people. You can see our interview from Monday, March 28 here http://www.daystar.com/vod/celebration.html

I knew my body was running on empty and I asked that God would fill me with His power. If you are ever in the Dallas area you absolutely must stop by their AMAZING studio! It is second to none and their bookstore is OUT OF THIS WORLD. Everyone from the security to janitors and staff to anointed singers all the way to the Lambs’ are humble servants and all about honoring God and blessing others.

For four nights last week, I was unable to sleep because of the slight fever and intense coughing. I finally got to sleep Tuesday morning at 1 AM only to receive a 3:30 AM wake up call to catch a 6AM flight. Its one thing to run thru the airport like O.J but when traveling with my wife, Ruth and two year old it takes a tad bit more preparation. As Vern would say: “YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?”

I don’t believe in Purgatory. It is never mentioned once in Scripture but the closest thing to it just may being sick and stuck between two small armrests on an airplane with no room whatsoever. Tuesday morning we flew from Dallas to Tulsa to Baltimore, MD and Ruth immediately drove me straight to the doctors office and he confirmed what my mother pinpointed over the phone. My fever spiked and bronchitis turned into walking pnemonia. By God’s grace I was down but not out.

This week was a blessing and a special thanks to my wife and parents who help make ministry possible in our lives. They are the winners! We added over a 100 new pics from our trip on Facebook. Despite being sick, this time when the faint words of Pat Summeral rang through my ears “TOUCHDOWN DALLAS” didn’t sound so bad because while being back in the Lone Star State we were blessed to brag on God, lift up Jesus and watch the Savior score souls to Himself. GO GOD! Truly, What a mighty God we serve! Angels bow before Him, Heaven and Earth adore Him – WHAT A MIGHTY GOD WE SERVE. I must confess: Even as a Redskins fan it actually sounded good to hear “Touchdown Dallas!”