Andrew Shelton w/ TONY NOLAN hair cut :)
For years, I loved the name Andrew and considered naming a boy if blessed to have one after that name. I also liked the sound of Andrew Graham. Every single time, Andrew is mentioned in Scripture he literally was bringing someone to Jesus. Quite a compliment! Plus, it is no secret that my hero on Earth (outside of my Dad) is Evangelist Billy Graham. It has been said you should give a child a name they can GROW into so I knew Hitler or Judas was out.
Ironically, I was born on President’s Day Weekend, February 20, 1972 and when God graced Ruth and I, with Andrew who was born on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009, we just knew we had to go to one of our family favorites and name him after Abraham Lincoln. As President Obama was being “sworn in” Baby Andrew was coming out. Talk about “getting out the vote.” 
Andrew has taught me so much the past year and his sister, Hannah Grace has been a big help with him. She will turn ten on April 30! Children have a way of reminding us what is most important and Jesus was right when He said: “Let the children come unto Me.” Here are just a few quick lessons my son has taught me that apply to Life, Leadership, Love and Living for the Lord.
1) SIGHT - For starters, Andrew SEES the smallest things. The most important things in life are NOT things! Regardless, if it is a torn piece of carpet, or a bug under the bed; he stops, stoops and stares at his new favorite friend. He reminds me of God because the things that matter least to us mean the most to Him.
2) SIMPLICITY - Everyone kept saying it would be so special for Andrew’s first Christmas but this year he didn’t even tear open the wrapping paper. He was content playing with his old toys (that won’t last long). Hannah typed out a 14 page list this year and even told me where the sales were online. Amazing! We bought him a couple nice toys and he was happy playing with the most unusual objects. Linus has a “security blanket” but Andrew loves the drain plug from the shower and he carries it wherever he goes.
3) STEADFAST - Andrew is learning to walk and I have come to the conclusion that babies begin to walk when they grow tired of falling down. Perseverance could be my middle name and what I admire about Andrew is that when he has his mind on something he is faithful and focused. He could fall down 203 times but make no mistake he is determined to get up en route to growing UP! He sees obstacles as opportunities! We could all learn from a child’s curiousity, creativity and CAN DO attitude.
4) SWEET - Babies are sure sweet and Andrew is no exception. When a child smiles it not only melts your heart but makes some of life’s problems seem small. When Andrew smiles I think of God’s grace and that miracles still happen. Andrew is unassuming and he waives to folks regardless of race, social status and gender. His JOY brings happiness and hope to those who may be hurting and I have witnessed that he has a special bond with not only other children but senior citizens. Older folks not only resemble babies in the “circle of life” but relate to them in a most special way.
5) STRESS? The reason, I put a queston mark next to the word is because in Andrew’s world he has no stress. If he could talk he would say WHAT STRESS? The only thing he has to worry about is that someone will either give him a bottle or wipe his bottom. He has it made in the shade drinking baby lemonade (look out Ed Young, Jr). Plus, he knows that he can trust his parents (don’t tell him but honestly sometimes I don’t trust me). He knows his Mom & Dad will provide and if he can trust us than I need to trust God more. Some worry about a “checkered” past while others fear about their future pondering their next move as if it were a game of chess but Andrew is like a sports star “in the zone.” He lives in the moment and may we all do the same.
6) SHORTCOMINGS - All of us as adults and adolescents have our shortcomings. God has convicted my heart by being a parent to our two children and I appreciate God’s unconditional love to us as “kids of the King.” Watching Andrew walk is something to behold and I do it with bated breath. One area that he struggles with is he loves to hold on to objects in his hands as he attempts to walk. This not only hinders his balance but blocks him from holding on to something for support. In love, I have tried to gently free his hands from the trinkets in his hands that he thinks he “needs” so he can move more freely. The moment he lets go of the “trinkets” in his grasp he can enjoy the treasure of walking without hinderance or hesitation. Even as adults we need to learn the art of “letting go” in order for God to have His Way in our lives. It has been said: “Relationships are like milk. They are great in season but after the expiration date can hurt you.”
Andrew (wearing daddy's baby shirt)
Ironically, the President will give his “State of the Union” tonight and may we (regardless of political party) pause and take an inventory of the state of the union in our life pertaining to God, others in self. Perhaps we need to SEE what matters most and not stare at trivial things that in eternity will have no value. May we SIMPLIFY and extract things that clutter our lives and cloud our walk with Christ. May we be STEADFAST and be both prayerful and productive in what God has called us to do. Promotion comes after perseverance even in the dictionary. We need to press in to Jesus and press on for God’s Glory. We strain when we are STRESSED. One great way to eliminate that is when we worry more is when many worship less. WRONG! We need to worship in the midst of our worries and our problems decrease when our praise increase. Lastly, may we be wise enough to see the shortcomings in our life and humble enough to ask for forgiveness from God and remain accountable to others. Then and only then, will we be running on all cylinders when we as adults remember the lessons of Heaven enveloped in babies on Earth. May our “state of the union” be strong not just in political rhetoric but a personal reality.
THANK GOD for babies and thank God for Ruth, Hannah and Baby Andrew. Like that Ronnie Milsap classic: “What A Difference You Made in my Life.”
My all-time favorite Christmas song is “O, Holy Night.” If I could sing that would be the song that I would close with at every concert. Truly, something was different and “holy” the night when the Babe born in Bethlehem’s barn became flesh and for thirty three years lived among us.
His birth was spectacular, His life sin-less, His death a sacrifice and his resurrection was nothing short of Sovereign. He was born in a virgin’s womb and laid to rest in a virgin tomb. Charlton Heston was right when he said: “The Gospel is the greatest story ever told.”
One of my favorite hymns of all time is “I Love to Tell the Story” and the words always thrill my soul:
“I love to tell the story of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love;
I love to tell the story, because I know ’tis true,
It satisfies my longings as nothing else would do
I love to tell the story, more wonderful it seems
Than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams;
I love to tell the story, it did so much for me,
And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.
I love to tell the story, ’tis pleasant to repeat,
What seems each time I tell it more wonderfully sweet;
I love to tell the story, for some have never heard
The message of salvation from God’s own holy Word.
I love to tell the story, for those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest;
And when in scenes of glory I sing the new, new song,
’Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.
I love to tell the story, ’Twill be my theme in glory,
To tell the old, old story Of Jesus and His love.”
My daily prayer is that I not only love the Story but live the story out all the days of my life. One of the reasons, I take planes, trains and automobiles to preach the Word is not only because God called but I truly love to tell His Story. History is really HIS STORY. Together, lets make HISTORY. Let us SHINE the rest of ‘09, WIN in 2010, because the fact is we could be going to Heaven by 2011.
May the Christmas Story never get old for you and may you never be too old to celebrate Christmas. Indeed, it was a holy night because that Babe born in Bethlehem became The Holy Light.
Frank & Ruth Shelton
Well, its Sunday and I am flying back home tomorrow from Birmingham, Alabama to Maryland after preaching today at Victory Church of God in Anderson, AL. As my friends down south say: ROLL TIDE!” Over the years, God has opened some AMAZING doors for me to walk through. Honestly, I take no credit for what He has done.
God has introduced me to folks that as a child were my heroes in film and in faith. He taught me early on that the sky was the limit and with God “ALL things are possible.” Why doubt when I could dream! He has allowed me to travel and visit ancient ruins, climb pyramids in Cairo, Egypt (almost got killed doing so), baptized in the Jordan where John & Jesus were, swam in the Dead Sea and rolled down the Nile River. Preached in the Bahamas and watched a movie being made in Las Vegas (ROCKY BALBOA) and even met a few “stars” in Los Angeles.
God has allowed me to do some pretty neat things in life. Regardless, if boarding “Air Force One” or flying on “Air Force Two” and interacting with heads of state, peeking in the Oval Office or driving a Congressman or Governor in my car; my life has resembled Forrest Gump more than once. Another highlight was playing 20 minutes of touch football on the legendary field of the Dallas Cowboys in 2007, and shooting hoops (at age 13) on a NBA court with the Harlem Globetrotters. My friend, Sam Glenn and I drove a $100k Mercedes loaned to us for a weekend while ministering in FL and the list could go on but again it is God’s doing not mine. Another special moment was meeting the late, great Dr E.V. Hill at the Billy Graham School of Evangelism in Monterey, CA in 1998, and he took the time to sign my Bible (I still preach weekly from that same Bible).
However, I will stop here because all of these events have happened not by fate but faith and God being the “Author and Finisher” of my life. It was not my credentials but Christ’s choosing and any success is not in my merits but His mercy. The bottom line is that God (as always) has been way too good to me. Like that classic song: “Sometimes He saves the best for last.”
The greatest thing in my life is not “things.” It is my salvation found “by faith” in Jesus Christ and my wife, Ruth and children, Hannah Grace & Andrew Lincoln. My faith, family and friends are the foundation of my life. The Bible notes: “he that finds a wife is most certainly blessed.” God has blessed me beyond measure and its true “the only good in me is Jesus.”
Monday, November 16, is my wife, Ruth’s birthday. When I first saw her it seemed time stood still. For this Type A evangelist that is in a constant state of perpetual motion when I gazed at her she stopped me dead in my tracks and almost stopped my heart in the process! She had a beauty that I had not seen before and it wasn’t just outside but she radiated for the Redeemer on the inside. She glowed for God and her love for the Lord was both evident and encouraging.
She is pure, precious and a princess. In my eyes, she is perfect and if she has any faults I am not aware of them. Hands down, she is one of the most respected people in radio and she runs three Christian-Spanish radio stations (PA, DC and VA). She is humble, honorable and almost always happy. Plus, she is one of the most hardest working person I know. She encourages me to live for God like few I have known and she is my best friend, cheerleader and wife. She is grounded in grace and never forgot where she has come from. Her daddy is a pastor of 50 years and they grew up in El Salvador. When evangelists come to Washington, DC the joke (but reality) is they don’t solicit or contact clergy of mega churches to announce their meetings but they only call one person - my wife, Ruth. They know if they can get to Ruth she will share with her audience on the radio and crowds come from everywhere. It has been said if she moved back to El Salvador she could run for elected office (no joke) and WIN.
She has been invited to State Dinners at The White House and yet politely “by passed” them to stay at home with our family. Almost daily, I wake up and pause and thank God that out of all the people in the world - I have the high honor to wake up with Ruth every morning. She is the glue in our family and the love of my heart. What I admire about her is not only can she hold her own but regardless of those in her presence she genuinely loves on them like our Lord and makes them feel special. Her mere presence challenges me to do my best and convicts me when I am off track.
The past two posts I discussed rejection and I rejoice more than ever not only by God’s great grace but the gift he has entrusted me with my bride and best friend. Today, may be her birthday but every day serves as an anniversary for me of when and where we met and why God would allow me to walk through life with someone as lovely as her. It is true: “Behind every good man is a great woman.” The fact is I am not “good” because all of us are like filthy rags compared to the righteousness of Christ but without question Ruth is most certainly a great woman. She has more “class” than a college. She has more compassion than a nurse and her value to me is worth all the gold in Fort Knox. She is spectacular and yet satisfied being a servant (the greats are servants). She is a mother to Andrew & Hannah and she is much more than a cook and cute but a confidant, cheerleader and counsellor to this “glorified goof ball” and work in progress.
Ruth also knows the call of God on my life to share the Word with the world. In my heart, I am convinced her reward will be greater than mine because like Billy Graham’s wife, Ruth and so many others in ministry have un-selfishly loaned their man to bring the Message to the masses. Society saw the “saints” speaking on stage but often forgot about the spouse behind (yet beside) their man while ministering. The Bible is clear: “Many who are first will be last and many last will be first.” Ruth and I, both are trying to point people to Jesus on a daily basis by our life and lips but for the record she is not only worth far more than rubies, Rolex, Range Rover and real estate but the greatest gift of my life.
Happy Birthday Baby and I am glad my heart didn’t stop when we met but when it does down the road I have been one rich man because God in His grace allowed me walk and talk with you. My wife, Ruth reminds me of God’s grace - I was smart enough to know I couldn’t earn it but I’m not dumb enough to reject it. Thank you Jesus and thank you Ruth for what you mean to me and so many. I LOVE YOU