Travelling is not only part of my job but one of my greatest JOYS! My life resembles PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES (literally). Travelling is not always glamorous but it is indeed God’s grace that I get to roll (much less FLY).
When I worked on Capitol Hill, one of the highlights for me was flying two days on one of the Presidential aircraft. On this particular trip, I was honored to fly on a Boeing 757 and it was typically designated as “AIR FORCE TWO.” More often than not, the Boeing 747’s are the primary planes designated for POTUS. The government purchased FOUR Boeing 757’s and frequently fly the Vice President, First Lady, Secretary of State and/or occasional Congressional leadership and Cabinet level staff. However, not all runways can accommodate the massive 747 jumbo jet so the President also flies on a smaller aircraft (757 and even Gulfstream jets periodically).
When I flew on one of the planes (757) in April 2000, we left Andrews Air Force Base in Clinton, MD and flew to Fort Bragg, NC and spent the night. I was blessed to sleep in rooms designated for colonels and above while armed military personnel and the United States Secret Service protected the plane the entire time we slept. The next morning, we left North Carolina first thing after smacking down on Carolina BBQ the night before and flew to Patrick Air Force Base in sunny Florida (Cape Canaveral). Ironically, that morning we landed on the same runway that the Space Shuttle returns home from orbit. WOW - tell me, I didn’t feel like Forrest Gump! Once again, a glorified goofball with the “Big Boys!”
The plane was big, bold and beautiful and painted white with the bright blue fuselage depicting “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” in black letters. Truly, it resembled as President Ronald Reagan described: “The flying White House.” It is also one of the planes that our Commander in Chief flies on occassion and the fact is, if he were flying in a hang glider it would be considered: “Air Force One.”
Since leaving the perks, pay and prestige of politics and no longer employed with the government my main mode of transportation as an evangelist these days is Southwest Airlines. I LOVE Southwest for a couple reasons. For starters, they are cheap, casual, comfortable, courteous and convenient to reach most cities. But the best part - you get to pick your own seat (that didn’t sound right)! 
Honestly, both “Air Force One” and Southwest are “first class” when you are in the will of God. On one I was employed by the government but today I am empowered by God.
I love their advertisement that boasts: “You’re now FREE to move about the country.” The Bible notes in Romans 8:1-4: “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” In the Bible we find a BIG word called JUSTIFICATION. One preacher from days gone by correctly broke the word down as if to mean “JUST AS IF” I never sinned.
God replaces our guilt for His grace. Guilt makes one cower in the corner while grace grants courage to flat out FLY to new levels conquering old devils. Our sin cost God’s only Son but because He died we could live in this life and the one to come. When we find Jesus as our Savior, Sacrifice and Substitute - He enables through Salvation (like Southwest) to move about the Country and makes us a peculiar people with purpose, passion and purity.
Sin restricts but “who the Son sets free is FREE indeed!” The Bible notes: “While we were yet sinners - Christ died for us.” If that doesn’t give flight to your wings than you are carrying too much baggage (guilt). Sin is a rope tied way too tight. It is bondage that leaves one looking in the past and not with expectancy to the future. It is a weight that will hold you down emotionally, physically and spiritually. However, when we find forgiveness from God we are liberated to be, go and do what we were created. When forgiveness floods our soul we are free to fly to heights we only dreamed and true “success” begins and ends with faith in Jesus.
THE WORD OF THE DAY: “Why be grounded when you can encounter God’s great grace!” Today, trade your guilt for His grace, your shame for His Game plan and may you no longer be grounded on the runway of life but taxi, take off and tower with God’s power to SOAR like you never have before! The control tower has cleared you, the Captain has cleansed you and because of the rich, red blood of Christ (like Southwest) truly, you are now FREE to move about the Country.
frank & AIR FORCE TWO
It is hard to believe but it was eight years ago today that America was knocked to her knees. Ironically, I had just flown back to Capitol Hill, the day before the attacks from preaching in Florida. I was also on staff at the Republican National Committee and I was raising funds for the GOP and on the phone with a donor trying to promote President George W Bush’s message on September 11, 2001, when a senior citizen told me a plane had just hit one of the Twin Towers in New York.
Less than 20 minutes later, another donor on the phone told me another plane hit the tower and I thought that they may have got the story wrong and it was the same plane. Instantly, I knew then that we were at war. Our office was one block from the United States Capitol Building and we were evacuated. That is one day I will not soon forget because we literally thought planes were falling out of the sky (especially, now that the Pentagon was on fire).
One year later, I was flown to Sullivan, Indiana at the invite of a couple pastors and churches of various denominations and was given the privilege to preach to a packed crowd at the one year anniversary on 9-11. It was also aired on radio all over the state and when I finished they gave God a standing ovation. The roar from the crowd was almost defeaning and even on tape it sounds like thunder. God gets all the glory but one of the privileges I have enjoyed as a preacher of the Gospel and my background with politics is that when society is hurting. God has allowed me and many others to offer comfort and peace in the midst of confusion and pain.
My message was entitled: “ATTACK ON AMERICA: Fear vs Faith.” The terrorists when they hit the Twin Towers were sending a symbolic message that they were out to destroy us financially. When they considered hitting The White House or U.S. Capitol - they were trying to relay a message to destroy us politically. When the plane hit the Pentagon that was to embarrass our military. However, what they really wanted to do was run a plane at a local church or National Cathedral because what they despise most is our faith in Jesus Christ.
Evangelist Billy Graham eloquently shared with the world: “The terrorists may have torn down our walls but our foundation is in tact. Our faith in Christ allows us to build and re-build.” We were down but not out. That day we saw some in society act at their very worst. However, countless Christians and concerned citizens around the Globe also came together showing acts of kindness in the very best spirit of mankind. Only God can bring triumph out of tragedy.
The truth is our security as a Nation comes only from the salvation offered by Jesus. Our hope is in Him and not ourselves. Ironically, the numbers 911 are the same numbers we are taught as children to call in case of an emergency. That day our strength was not in ourselves because we were gasping for air. It was not in our communications because phone lines were shut down. It was not in our finances because the banking system came to a halt and the lives that died that day reminded us all that the soul of man is more valuable than stocks and bonds. Our own President was diverted at the instruction of the U.S. Secret Service to fly away from Washington, DC. Our hope was and still only found in the Person and Power of Christ. No one would have ever bet that the massive Twin Towers would ever have crumbled to the ground before our very eyes. However, what we can see is temporal but what we cannot see is eternal.
Today, I pause and pray for the victims family who suffered such loss then and today still learning to live without their loved one(s). My friend, Tammy Trent (who tours with WOMEN OF FAITH) also lost her husband that day on 9-11, but she was overseas on a missions trip when he died while snorkling. As America was crumbling back home, her world was also coming apart. In honor of her husband, Trent who also passed away eight years ago today, I would like to encourage you to click VIDEO on my left side bar and listen to my past interview with Tammy sharing her amazing story of God’s grace in the midst of life’s storms. Below is one of my all-time favorite songs: “God Bless America” by Lee Greenwood. It is great to listen any time of the year (especially today).
God spared America that day and He continues to bless us more than we deserve today. Regardless of your political background, race or gender I would encourage you to pray for our President, pray for our Congress, public servants, our soldiers fighting for freedom and celebrate with humility that we still live in the greatest Nation on Earth. God bless America and as Americans may we live a life that blesses God.
Elvis Presley & Rick Stanley (in car)
Ironically, I just saw him perform ten concerts before his passing. My father phoned my mother and he heard at work that Elvis had passed. Like Paul Revere on horseback screaming “The British are Coming, the British are coming” - ironically, I got word and ran up and down my street on the sidewalk yelling: “Elvis is dead - Elvis is dead.” When asked how he died, I said: “I don’t know - maybe he fell off the stage.” The irony looking back was I didn’t even stay in the house long enough to hear how he died but I just knew I had to share with the world that “The King” was gone.
In my house, Elvis was huge. Graceland was BIG and Elvis was larger than life. My father’s friend was personal friends with Presley and Elvis even gave him a Cadillac. To me, Elvis had charisma, charm and countless talent. He was patriotic and personality personified and when he walked it was poetry in motion. He had incredible stage presence, even better voice and a God given gift that made one think he was singing directly to you (even if seated at top row of a ten thousand seat arena). Gospel Great J.D. Sumner was correct when he said: “After singing Gospel music for over four decades - I heard them all and in my opinion, NO ONE sang a Gospel song like Elvis Presley.” Ironically, the “King of Rock N Roll” never won a Grammy for his rock music but he won three for his Gospel albums. I have always said: “Promote the Lord and the Lord will promote you!” Elvis despite his problems was one in a million and he constantly gave to others. He also knew his gift was from God. Recently, I had the high honor to grow as friends with Elvis Presley’s stepbrother, Evangelist Rick Stanley.
Rick came at my request and did a three service revival in my hometown in March 2009, at First Baptist Church of Accokeek, MD. He was incredible, humble and powerful. Three amazing attributes. I know his brother would be proud but even greater, Jesus is proud of Rick. He was also gracious to be a “call in” guest on my radio show “FRANKLY SPEAKING” the month before the revival and it was a blessing to hear him share about his experiences with Elvis but also his passion for preaching the Gospel of Jesus.
Rick was one of the last people to ever have a full conversation with Elvis the night he died and you can listen firsthand what that conversation was about. Elvis said to young Ricky Stanley (who was not a believer at the time) noted: “Ricky, it is the people who tell you about Jesus are the one’s that really care for you. Man, you have to listen to what they have to say.” A couple hours later - ELVIS was dead.
Thirty years later, similar to that childhood boy after hearing the news that “The King was dead” I still storm out of my house, run up and down the streets of my hometown and across America with even greater passion. Today, it is not that the king died (Elvis) but that the King lives (Jesus). Today, in my house and parent’s home for us - Jesus is HUGE, Heaven is BIG and my Lord is larger than life.
In honor of Elvis passing today below is my interview with Elvis’ brother. God bless Elvis Presley, God bless America and God bless you.
Patriotism, Prayer & Pride
My four month old son, Andrew Lincoln has taught me some powerful life lessons recently. His focus on his Bottle is second to none. He is like a laser, an arrow to its target, white on rice, a man on a mission when it comes to focusing on his formula (bottle). Nothing or no one matters at that moment. As I prepare to speak tonight I am reminding the graduates that we must focus (not on the bottle) but the Bible like never before. Someone wrote to her son going off to college: “Baby, this Book (Bible) will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from this Book.” We need to major like never before on God’s Word. Our focus needs to be in the Word not world. Our gaze on God, sights set on the Savior and be looking for the Lord’s appearing because Arnold was not the first to say: “I’ll Be Back!”
Secondly, I have a 7 AM flight tomorrow to the Peach State (Great State of Georgia) and will speak twice on Sunday to two different churches. A Baptist church in the morning and a Pentecostal church in evening in that sweet southern state. Any place, with sweet tea, southern hospitality and Cracker-Barell is home away from home for me. Thirdly, my dear Aunt Georgia Shelton, was admitted this week to the hospital for chest pains and we initially thought she had a heart attack. Between my preaching this weekend in Georgia and my Aunt Georgia; hence, the title for this post: “Georgia on my mind.” On Monday, we celebrate “Memorial Day” and a special salute to all those whom and continue to fight for our freedom and safeguard our shores. Liberty is not FREE and I am reminded of this great thought in closing.
“It is the VETERAN, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion. It is the VETERAN, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the VETERAN, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble.
It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial. It is the VETERAN, not the politician, Who has given us the right to vote. Sadly, often times it is the VETERAN that still salutes the flag when most at sporting events are “Missing In Action” when it comes to respect and reverance.”
This weekend, pause and pray for our recent graduates around the Globe that they will walk and work for God’s glory. Pray for my Aunt Georiga and all those ill during these dark, difficult days with health issues. Please pray for our Nation that we continue to chase the Commandments of Christ because it is a fact; we will no longer be Home of the Brave if we lack in faith and use our freedom for selfish gains. Last but not least, thank a VETERAN and most importantly, praise God for “whom ALL blessings flow.” Our Liberty is because of the Lord and because He lives - we can too! God bless you and God bless America.