This year has FLOWN by. Someone asked Dr. Billy Graham what surprised him most about life and without missing a beat the renown evangelist said: “BREVITY, how short it is.” The Bible talks about our life being a “vapor.” We are here today and could literally be gone tomorrow. In January 2012, I posted a blog “NO MORE EXCUSES.” I’m convinced it is better to be a good example than a poor excuse. Ruth and I pray daily for God to open doors to serve Him both locally and globally. The Lord has blessed and we desire daily to be a blessing. This year, we have been fortunate to minister in London, Los Angeles & La Plata, MD (in neighboring town of our home) and a few stops in between. All ministry is BIG and its exciting and exhilirating to know the God of the Universe not only cares for us, loves us, died for us and coming back for us but actually delights in using us despite our flaws and shortcomings.

Just last week, I had the high honor to return to California at the invite of TBN (Trinity Broadcast Network’s JC-TV) world-wide televison ministry and preach 23 minutes LIVE around the globe to close out their telethon. My dear friend, Clayton King preached Monday – Matt Pitt was Tuesday and I was blessed to preach Wed. God gave me a word and we will have that video link up shortly. My message was “The Obvious isn’t Obvious.” The week before my trip to West Coast, I saw a tweet from Dr Mac Brunson of FBC Jacksonville, FL. He shared a statistic that I knew to be true for too long “95% of Christians will likely live and die and never lead anyone to Jesus.” I replied to him and he re-tweeted my note “Sadly, most Christians have enough of JESUS to get them to Heaven but apparently not enough to keep others out of Hell.”

On TBN, I opened up with that quote and like a Ferrari with no brakes shared a story that both allegedly happened to Elvis & Michael Jackson. The pic above is my father’s friend, Bob whom was with the Memphis Mafia and honorary pallbearer at Elvis’ funeral in 1977. One rare Saturday at home, Elvis read in a local newspaper in the mid ’70’s that an Elvis Presley impersonator contest was transpiring that night just 75 miles from Memphis, TN. He allegedly told his bodyguards to have the night off, got in his own Cadillac and drove himself through the gates of Graceland and headed to the contest. Unbeknownst to the crowd, contestants and judges – Elvis Presley entered himself in the contest but are you sitting down? Buckle up – drum roll please….. Elvis came in SECOND place!! How? The obvious isn’t always obvious.

Mother Mary pregnant with Christ accompanied by Joseph found that “there was NO ROOM for them in the INN.” After working for a couple U.S. Presidents while in Washington, D.C. I can attest if a Head of State or dignitary travels abroad that hotel managers have been known to extract paying customers to MAKE ROOM for an earthly king but they had NO ROOM for the King of kings when the Babe was born in Bethlehem! How? The Obvious isn’t Obvious.

Many missed Christ at His birth but Pontious Pilate missed Him at Jesus’ death. A custom was in the land that someone could be set free whom was sentenced to die. Pilate’s wife begged him to leave the Lord alone but Pilate feared the crowd more than reverence for The Christ and the unthinkable happened. He allowed Barabbas a convicted felon sentenced to die go free while the sinless Savior was slain. How? THE OBVIOUS ISN’T OBVIOUS. Too often, we cater to cubic zirconia’s and neglect the Genuine Article in our midst.

In closing, Ruth & I had the pleasure to catch up with my dear friend of nearly 20 years, Dr Johnny Pope after landing from California and he preached a two day revival at my home church (Dec 6-7). Dr Pope is one of the most anointed preachers around and amazing at sharing illustrations with Biblical application. He shared a story that transpired in the early 1980’s of Telly Savalas (KOJACK) boarding a “first class” flight to his hometown of Athens, Greece. The Hollywood star was having a busy day and looking forward to vacation for a few days free of stress. He got on plane, threw his leather satchel in the overhead compartment and said loud enough that folks in coach could hear “I’m a Big Star, I’m dead tired and on vacation! I don’t want any interruptions on this flight” and crashed in his chair.

The plane took off, hit 33,000 feet and about an hour in flight a wealthy man in a shiny suit (also seated in First Class) unbuckled his seat belt and approached Savalas saying “I don’t mean any harm. I have been a fan from afar but never had pleasure to meet you. May I have five minutes of your time to hear what your native Greece means to you?” The celebrity barked “Maybe you didn’t hear me but I don’t have time for anyone today. I’m officially on vacation!” The man humbly walked back to his seat. Two hours later, the man couldn’t resist but retraced his steps back to the star and said “I don’t mean any harm. I asked for five minutes but really would like 60 seconds. Can you in one minute tell me what Greece means to you? Sir, you are one of our favorite son’s and we are so proud of you.” Savalas, now more agitated than ever replied “I told you once and now twice. I would like peace and quiet and HAVE NO TIME FOR YOU!!”

The man humbly walked back to his seat. On the last leg of the flight before touching down in Athens the Captain came over the speaker and said “We will be arriving in Greece in half an hour and soon starting the descent.” The man behind him in First Class but rejected twice un-buckled his seat belt and approached him for one last time. When “Kojack” could see him coming from his peripheral vision he went ballistic and exclaimed to the wealthy man “Man, I didn’t have time for you before, now or NEVER!” I don’t care if you are first class or coach class I AM ON VACATION and told you once, twice and THREE TIMES to leave me alone!” The man humbly walked back to his seat and fastened his seatbelt. The plane landed and as they were taxiing to the terminal – Telly Savalas threw opened his window shade and saw 150 reporters and cameras lined up on the run way. Telly rolled his eyes in disgust and said aloud “I couldn’t get peace on the plane and now will be attacked by these reporters on the runway begging me for an interview! I am on vacation and have time for NO ONE!!

He grabbed his leather luggage above and raced toward the door exiting the plane. A stewardess approximately five foot nothing jumped between he and the door and screamed with both hands out “STOP!” Telly Savalas said “Lady, you may not know who I am but I’m a BIG STAR!” The woman replied: “I know exactly who you are but NO ONE gets off before the Emperor!” The man that Telly Savalas rejected THREE times was the King of Greece. Ironically, the 150 journalists were on the runway waiting not for the Hollywood star but the king returning from his own vacation. All he (king) wanted to do was ask Savalas – “Where are you staying?” Telly would have probably said a “Four Star Hotel” and all the king wanted to do was invite him to his Palace as his personal guest but because Telly Savalas had no time for the king on the plane; the king of Greece and kingdom that came with him had NO TIME FOR TELLY when he got off the plane. The Bible talks about not neglecting such a great salvation. In a billion lights flickering this Christmas it is actually possible to miss The Light of the World in the process. How do I know? THE OBVIOUS ISN’T OBVIOUS.