Ruth & Andrew on my birthday
Recently, I shared that I may not die with tons of money but will certainly leave with many memories. It is true: “Whatever we do for self will pass but what we do for Christ will last.” Last week, it was my pleasure to minister in the Bahamas (see post below) and on Thursday, I fly (LORD WILLING) to Birmingham, AL to attend the Board Retreat for PRAISEFEST MINISTRIES - “Cruise with a Cause.” We’re discussing plans for our upcoming seven day cruise next year to Jamaica aboard Carnival’s largest vessel and we are praying to reach over 50,000 Jamaicans for Jesus! Bob Marley sang: “No Woman No Cry” but the fact is without Jesus in death everyone will cry. Not popular but the Gospel Truth!
Confirmed speakers include: Dr Johnny Hunt, Pastor John Hagee, Jentezen Franklin, Bishop Paul Morton, Josh McDowell, Dr Ergun Caner, Jamey Ragle, Nikita Koloff. Artists: CASTING CROWNS, Donnie McCurkin, Jason Crabb, Martha Minuzzi, Anthony Evans, comedian John Gray, SONICFLOOd, Hezekiah Walker, Ayiesha Woods, & countless others! More to be released soon. God has blessed me to speak on all three of their cruises to the Bahamas and I’m HONORED to help bring Jesus to Jamaica as one of their featured speakers on the ship to Jamaica on May 30-June 5, 2011! If you would be willing to sail the seas for the Son let me know and this is the most affordable cruise available and it would be perfect for singles, married couples, churches, youth groups, mission trip and/or a treat to send your pastor for some R&R as an appreciation gift.
Ruth and I, will meet this Saturday, Feb 27 in Nashville, TN and we will be attending the NATIONAL RELIGIOUS BROADCASTERS convention at the famed Opryland Hotel. It will be great to spend time with her and fellow friends in ministry. PRAISE THE LORD - last week, I learned that I’m now also an endorsed speaker for UPWARDS www.Upward.org and they have a wonderful sports outreach. It’s my honor to be linked with them.
Next month, I have been invited to Guatemala with COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL for five days to love on the poverty-stricken children. Those that some consider the least matter most to God. It took three years, but I am now one of only a few speakers nation-wide to be one of their ambassadors and speakers for Compassion. Others include: Michael W Smith, Rebecca St James, Jeremy Camp, David Edwards, my buddy - Grant Norsworthy, formerly of SONICFLOOd and Justin Lookadoo and I, will be flying to Guatemala on this upcoming trip overseas. If you would like to donate to this great group and sponsor a child please click the COMPASSION link.
En route to Florida last week, I was on the phone with one of my childhood heroes - Harlem Globetrotter legend and Evangelist Meadowlark Lemon and he made me feel like an “un-official” Globetrotter willing to travel the world bringing God’s Word. It is neat when your heroes as a kid know Christ and call you friend as an adult. Thank you JESUS! Please pray for open doors and our desire is to exalt Christ, encourage Christians and minister to clergy while in town. It would be my pleasure to minister at your next church outreach. For booking contact Stacy@TheRobinsonAgency.com or visit www.FrankShelton.com
Again, thanks for making my birthday extra special and when our gaze is UPWARD we cannot help but have “COMPASSION on the multitudes.” God bless and go with God.
Snowman & Bandit - Bahamas 2010
We got a total of 37 inches of snow and our scheduled flight for Wed, Feb 10 to Orlando, FL was cancelled. In baseball terms: STRIKE ONE! On Tuesday and Wednesday, my father and I, spent (literally) ALL DAY shovelling snow and more came late Wednesday only to repeat our efforts from the day before. We live 1/2 mile from the road and the county doesn’t come down our drive to pave the road. Therefore, to dig our way through three feet of snow was no small task. I kept thinking, if God could come from Heaven to Earth; then I couldn’t let a few feet of snow hold us back from “missing the boat” to the Bahamas to minister to this great group. Well, round two of snow came and our flight to Florida on Thursday night was cancelled too. STRIKE TWO! Satan was tempting me to think of that SNICKERS commercial: Not going anywhere for awhile?” At last minute, we learned Ruth wasn’t able to make the trip, my parents had already drove 150 miles to baby-sit Andrew and bottom of the ninth; the odds were slowly starting to be (like the snow on our window) stacked against us.
My heart dropped and crushed that Ruth couldn’t come but with her blessing to minister I didn’t want the cruise planners or participants to think we didn’t try or love them nor did I want to get accused of false advertising. Then I thought of the powerful Marines commercial with the slogan: “We don’t accept applications - only commitments!” I learned Thursday at 9AM that if I were to make the trip than I would have to drive 1,000 miles (each way) from Maryland to Orlando, FL in less than 24 hours by car. With faith like a Ferrari with no brakes; immediately, the theme song to “SMOKEY IN THE BANDIT” danced in my head and I can still hear Jerry Reed singing: “We Got a Long Way to Go and a Short Time to get there - we’re eastbound now watch that Bandit (evangelist) run!” 
WATCH the video of that classic movie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXYBUeiaJcM
Time was ticking, the snow was sticking and this brother had to get his heels clicking. Like Elvis, I left the building (house) drove “by faith” hoping we could just get to Richmond, VA with safer, snow-less streets. My buddy, Randy Collins was able to ride with me and he did the driving and thanks to the great staff at ACC pulling some strings - Randy was able to cruise with us in the process! With not a moment to spare, we arrived in Florida at 2:30 AM on Friday morning only to rush straight to Port Canaveral to board our boat. Burt Reynolds was Bandit and ironically, Jerry Reed in the movie was SNOWMAN. Well, with three of feet of snow - Randy certainly lived up to his name! The irony is our bags were packed, our ticket confirmed, excitement for our temporal vacation and we literally (almost) “Missed the Boat.”
What a weekend we had and it was a JOY to meet new friends and I have always had a heart for students and singles. Sometimes, those that feel “overlooked” matter the most to God. The group was FANTASTIC and the strangers who boarded the ship initially, now left as forever friends because of their faith in Christ. What impressed me most is that the singles had obstacles to get there too and they all came by themselves. They came from Canada, California, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Texas, Kentucky, Virginia, Georgia, Florida and what faith they displayed and they ministered to me! Two nights we were up after 2AM talking about life, loss and living for the Lord. We really bonded as a group and I always said: “Ministry is much more than what one says in the pulpit but how they act off the platform is more important.” As servants of Christ it is imperative that we be accessible, approachable and available. It is easy to communicate but it takes practice, patience and perseverance to connect with others. More personal investment is required but the results are ALWAYS far greater! Today, we posted 50 pictures on Facebook from our recent trip!
In my heart, I am convinced that “favor comes after faith.” It is true in the dictionary too (alphabetically). Show me your faith and I will show you your future. I have found in my own life and journey with Jesus that those that come the greatest distance often get the biggest blessing for their efforts. I love that passage in Scripture where Jesus said: “Your faith has made you whole.” He also noted: “As they went they were healed (delivered) and I have found it to mean blessed as well. Yes, when the going gets tough the tough get going and God shows off while you’re gone!
The drive down was a blast and yes, like Salvation it was God’s grace we made it (much less invited to speak at the cruise) but I kept thinking on the drive south how millions of folks around the world really believe they are ready to meet God, their “bags packed” and convinced they have a reserved reservation but could still miss the Boat (Heaven). Some rely, on their “good” works, religion, grandma’s prayers, daddy’s coat tails, etc but the fact is apart from faith in Christ’s sacrificial death as our Savior and Substitute we are “sitting on the dock of the bay - WASTING TIME.”
Life is not fair, Satan throws curveballs and plans can change (like the weather) on a dime. Time is running out but Jesus died not wanting to leave anyone out and it is a travesty to miss a temporal vacation but don’t die missing out on your ETERNAL destination. It is true, we either arrive safely in Heaven or scorched in Hell. We will arrive at the Gates of Pearl or gates of peril; Paradise above or pain below and don’t gamble on God. Make certain of your salvation because why miss Paradise when you are left taking chances as if throwing a pair of dice. Don’t gamble on God, the Lord isn’t a lottery and all the cash in the world couldn’t buy God’s great grace.
The Gaither Vocal Band sings a song that I have loved for two decades called “The Gospel Ship.” Those that put their trust in God’s Gospel Ship of Salvation will find a ship that will not sink but surely SAVE! Take it from my wife, Ruth who (because of the snow and scheduling conflicts) couldn’t make the trip but praise God has her passport stamped, her name in the Book of Life and when the Lord returns she is ready to go! Whatever you do - DON’T MISS THE BOAT!
Anthony, fs & Dr Tony Evans - Bahamas 08
This past year has been a whirlwind and the older I get the faster life flies by. The one thing I don’t regret is serving Jesus early in my life. It was 30 years ago this July 2009 (at age seven) that I trusted Jesus as my Lord & Savior. Praise God, I have yet to get “over it.”
The clip above was a promo video that Dr Rick Scarborough’s church in Texas made for my visit this past August with their precious people. Brother Rick is one of my heroes and it was an honor and humbling to preach in his pulpit. He is also founder of VISION AMERICA.
After being bi-vocational in ministry for 17 years, while I worked on Capitol Hill in various capacities my passion was always people and preaching. It has now been two and a half years full-time completely living “by faith” since leaving the salary, benefits, health insurance, 401K, retirement, etc. This past year counting radio, tv, revivals, camps and speaking wherever God opened the door; I was blessed to preach over 200 times in one year. God gets the credit and I say this not to say “look at me” but in the wise words of Tony Nolan: GO GOD!
When I walked away two years ago, I didn’t have a single booking to speak or preach. When God said: “Go” I knew I had to be gone. We are thankful for the invites and open doors to preach and we are already filling up dates into Spring and Summer 2010. We pray daily for open doors and to go wherever, to whomever and whenever God leads. The greatest “high” in life is not alcohol but being used by the Almighty. Its not in crack but Christ, its not mariajuana but knowing the Master, its not playing with PCP but preaching on bahalf of the Prince of Peace. Its not in LSD but the Lord and not heroine but Him!
If you know of a church, camp, conference or concert that could use a glorified goof-ball for your next event - PRAYERFULLY remember my willingness to be a blessing to your church or group. My motto: “Have Bible - will travel.” Stacy at The Robinson Agency in Atlanta, GA helps with my bookings and her e-mail: Stacy@TheRobinsonAgency.com
If you are free in February 12-15, 2010 - JOIN Dr Tony Evan’s son, ANTHONY EVANS and me as we minister together aboard the Royal Caribbean on a Christian Singles Cruise. All Christian Cruises invited Anthony to sing and I have been booked to speak four times leading all devotions on the ship. DON’T MISS THE BOAT and it would be an honor to sail the seas with you into the SON! For more info - www.FrankShelton.com
LOOK OUT next week for my post on “The Little Drummer Boy.” God doesn’t ask that we be the best but DO our best. Lessons we can all learn from this little lad. God bless & go with God.
Frank Shelton & Dr Ergun Caner
www.FrankShelton.com