Christmas is about 10 days away. That gives you plenty of time to gather a few more gifts for those in your life. Here are some excellent gifts to help you and others stay “always ready.” Get some!

AFO Fire Extinguisher Ball – Throw it in a fire & watch it knock it out.

Spyderco Knife Sharpener – A sharp knife is a safe knife.

Jocko Blades Knives – The blade for your needs from the field to the kitchen.

Surefire Stiletto Flashlight – You can’t lead where you can’t see. Light the path.

Full Auto BB Gun – Upgrade your Red Ryder and start plinking.

Alabaster Bible – Proverbs – Inspired & Inspiring.

NoBull Trainers – The ultimate footwear for working out.

LAPG Combat Shirt – Life is a battle, dress the part.

Yeti Rambler Mug – A signature mug for your signature drink.

Jocko Go Drink – Fill that Yeti, Fuel your body.

The day we returned from our honeymoon we began this endless adventure of ministry. That day I started as the local outreach pastor at Grace Community Church under John MacArthur.  It was an incredible role, doing what I loved, connecting a vibrant church with the unbelieving world. While we loved being a part of the pastoral team, we were convinced God was directing us to eventually plant a church where it was needed most. At the same time we had so much to learn in other areas of church leadership. Pastor Steve Lawson knew what we needed and in 2006 graciously invited us to join his staff for several years at Christ Fellowship Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama. That experience gave us so many skills and resources to advance Christ’s work.

Then the call came in 2008 asking if we would move to Naples, Florida and help plant Grace Bible Church. What an epic adventure as over the course of almost four years, we saw Christ build, protect and provide for His church. Today it is just about 12 years old and continues to faithfully proclaim Christ to all who will hear.

In 2012 God opened the door to step into the vast world of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Although I grew up in the seminary context given my father’s work at The Master’s Seminary, the size and scope of Southern was incredible to experience. The heart of my work there was two fold, mobilizing students for local and international missions and at the same time, raising funds to underwrite the cost of education. Combined, those two roles introduced me to a world wide network of missionaries, evangelists, pastors, professors and generous donors who represent the best of the Southern Baptist Convention and Southern Seminary. Our home and hearts were endlessly filled as students came over for “family dinner” and fellowship. It was a total joy to serve with the world class team and grow under the leadership of Dr. Albert Mohler.

Then came the pandemic. Southern Seminary made hard decisions in effort to prepare for the unknown, laying off a number of faculty and staff. As Proverbs 16:9 says, “The mind of man plans his way but the Lord directs his path.” Our plans for a lifetime in Louisville came to an end that day, but yet at the same time, God was directing us to a path of His perfect design.

That new path did not start during the pandemic. It actually began years ago when Pastor Todd Smith from Crossroads Community Church in Santa Clarita, California began recruiting me to serve as their Outreach Pastor. For several years I resisted since we deeply loved our ministry and role in Louisville. However, in February the church made their strongest recruiting appeal. Again I resisted, but when God moved my former role out of the way, His calling was clear. Crossroads struck the match that lit the fuse God placed in my heart. I am always driven toward to the front lines of gospel ministry. As C.T. Studd, “some want to live in the sound of church or chapel bells, I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.” One yard from hell, pulling people back from that eternal step.

We have loved Crossroads Community Church for many years. Their love for Christ, faithful exposition of His Word, joyful affection for one another and fearlessness to reach the world resonates with every beat of our hearts. Mobilizing and equipping Crossroads for global gospel ministry is God’s calling on our lives and we are going! Your prayers are what we need the most as our three daughters transition into a new high school and the work begins.

So California, we are coming home. Not because the west is familiar, but because it is the gospel frontier. Press on!

Stitzinger Family 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic will leave a scar on every person in our society. We cannot expect anyone to be unscathed by something of this magnitude. Some will experience the harsh medical trauma of the virus, others the loneliness of isolation. And with nearly 30 million Americans unemployed now, many scars will come through the loss of work.

There is an acute pain for those who lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Despite heroic leadership and careful planning, it is the economic reality of this pandemic. Last week this became true for me, when the impact of the Coronavirus took its toll on our workplace.

Because this is my story, it has given me a fresh perspective on what millions of others are going through right now.

It is one thing to be humbled, it is another to be humiliated. Being laid off can be a compound fracture that accomplish both. It is humbling to leave a workplace you love for the final time, and it can also be humiliating to start over, tell the story a hundred times while pursuing the next vocation.

Shame may say hide it, for fear of what others may think. Worry can’t help but appear, over concern of how to provide for my family. Even the most decisive person can still battle uncertainty over how to move forward navigating the unknown. While the full spectrum of human emotions and sinful temptations attempt to contaminate every thought, we have the indwelling Holy Spirit using the antidote of Scripture to guide us through these days.

Whether you are in this situation, sensing it on the horizon, or caring for others in the midst of this it, let me give you some advice. Bring your concerns and worries out in the open. One text that repeatedly stands out is 1 Peter 5:5-11:

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.

There are six practical steps this passage gives to help those going through this trial:

Embrace our humiliations

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God…” This pandemic takes no prisoners and is erasing what we called “normal” at an exponential rate. Peter tells us to embrace the humbling circumstances as God uses them to expose pride, spotlight idols, and draw us back to dependency our Savior’s provision. This is a humbling time, embrace it. Don’t search for distractions, don’t flinch on integrity. Refuse to give ground to any root of bitterness. Do not wallow in self-pity or be paralyzed by the “what if’s” and “if only’s”. While we loved our work, our coworkers, and those we served, never confuse what we did vocationally with our true identity. Earthly titles are significant, but they mean nothing when God call us “beloved” (Colossians 3:12).

Our identity is in Christ, in the settled reality that He has forgiven us our sin, His Spirit irrevocably dwells within us and our eternity is secure. In humble dependence, submit to what God is unfolding. Endure each step with His peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7), never failing to simply pray as Jesus instructed, give us this day our daily bread (Matthew 6:11). Yield as God reduces our world to the pursuit of what we truly need and watch as He provides (Matthew 6:25-34).

Remember that God owns the clock

“…that He may exalt you at the proper time…”  When will this be over? At the proper time. When is that? Ultimately, when we reach Heaven and we have the awesome privilege of worshiping God forever. For now, only God knows. He knew when this trail would start, only He knows when it will end. This is a marathon and we cannot see the finish line from the starting point. Proverbs 16:9 says, “The mind of man plans his way, But Yahweh directs his steps.” Make a plan and work tenaciously, while God controls the clock. Yes, it is frightening to think how to pay the mortgage or rent, how to provide food and the rest of the bills. God loves what is His and you belong to Him. He does not let His children go without what they need. While we trust His timing, rest in His incredible promise to provide (Psalm 127:2).

Cast our cares on Him

Peter compassionately reminds to at all times to be “casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” Literally it means throw the things that cause you worry on Him. We can’t cling to our anxiety and at the same time surrender it to Him. We have to throw it on Him in prayer but catch this, the Creator of the Universe, the King of eternity, the Inventor of humanity, He cares for you. God cares. Not just at a distance, but in detail and He says to cry out to Him so that what terrifies us falls into the sea of His endless compassion, mercy and love.

Dwell on David’s words in Psalm 55:22, “Cast your burden upon Yahweh and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” Follow that with Christ’s reminder in Matthew 6:32-33:

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Here are just a few of God’s promises that are timely reminders for this season:

• God will provide for our needs – Philippians 4:19
• The Holy Spirit is interceding for us – Romans 8:26
• This situation will ultimately be good – Romans 8:28, Psalm 84:11
• The peace of God will guard our minds – Philippians 4:6-7
• Christ alone provides rest for our souls – Matthew 11:28-30
• Scripture restores our weary souls – Psalm 19
• Christ will give us His peace – John 14:27
• God is faithful to all of His promises – Lamentations 3:21-27
• God will provide wisdom – James 1:5
• Our home in Heaven is secure – John 14:2-3
• God will never leave us or forsake us – Hebrews 13:5-6

Stay alert

“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”  This season is like a mental minefield. Internally we ferociously fight the onslaught of temptations that show up in self-pity, bad attitudes, and excuses. Outwardly there is always gossip, slander and idle laziness that must be mortified. Our accuser, the slanderer is spring loaded to attack, do not give any opening to his attempt to drain the life out of us through his assaults.

Peter writes, resist him, firm in your faith. Scripture repels Satan. Read it, sing it, say it, memorize it, write it. This is war, do not set down the Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). Keep an open Bible nearby at all times, submerge your mind in it, let it restore your soul (Psalm 19) and bring it into every conversation with those around you.

Stay alert for how you are influencing your family through this season. Drain the fear by reminding everyone continually that our Creator, Owner and Sustainer goes before us each day. On managing family emotions, we found something that works for us. Every day I give a “5:00 Family Update.” I spend the entire day working on whatever lead I can discover or create and then take 15 minutes to walk through a verse and some highlights of the hunt. That time slot lets me prepare edifying and encouraging statements, answer questions and alleviates the pressure of having to give an update every time I hang up the phone or receive an email.

Understand that we are not alone

“…knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.” Knowing that millions of others are in this same situation isn’t necessarily comforting. It’s actually terrifying. However, there are so many other brothers and sisters in Christ who either are in this situation now or have been at some point in the past. The family of Christ is with us. If something like this is in your past, reach out to anyone you know going through it and extent “the love of God who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (1 Corinthians 1:4).

If this is your time to experience this loss, draw close with every opportunity to worship, fellowship and draw from the strength of those who can help you through this time of weakness. At the same time, do not step back from opportunities to disciple others too. We must live our theology and that theology includes walking through trials together.

See what God is doing

“After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” Look beyond the trauma of today and lock your eyes on what God is accomplishing. It’s not complicated: God is doing an incredible work through this experience not just in our hearts, but in His church and ultimately throughout this world.

Peter says there are four actions God is taking. By perfecting Peter is saying, God is putting everything in order. Our priorities become very clear when a facade of security is ripped away. This experience is refining character and burning away pride as it is discovered. Second, God is confirming us. That is to say He is stabilizing us in His love, reminding us of His irrevocable love (Romans 8:26-39). Third, He is strengthening us moment by moment as His indwelling Spirit comfort us with His hope-filled promises that are new every morning (Lamentations 3:21-27). Forth, God is establishing us by anchoring in His sovereign plan.

Believer, we are never alone (Hebrews 13:5-6). You may feel alone and the dark of night is no time to second guess God’s love, watchcase or provision for you. The waves of anxiety will wash over, but as they pass, be comforted that the King who controls the universe cares for each of us. His Spirit indwells us with supernatural power to fight against the worry and fear. We join with believers from every generation many of whom had far worse experiences to endure. To all of us the Apostle James writes “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance” (James 1:2-3). 

It is on this firm foundation that we can all say, To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.

It was the Saturday between Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. By 9:00 AM we were at our dining room table weaving Easter baskets from construction paper strips for tomorrow’s big egg hunt. Mom scurried about preparing for the celebration while our dad worked in his church office a few hundred yards away.

Someone pounded on our front door. Visitors were common but this was not the knock of a familiar friend. As the “man of the house,” I walked through the kitchen toward the door, alarmed by the haze descending from the ceiling. The pounding on the door intensified as my eyes locked on at least 3 men through the windowpanes.

I don’t remember if I opened the door or if they kicked it in, it doesn’t matter. They saved our lives. Furiously they grabbed my 9 year old frame, my siblings (Rachel, 11 and David, 4) along with our mom and rushed us outside. Once we cleared the shadow of our house, we turned to see the roof engulfed in flames. These strangers, now our rescuers, saw the fire from the road and ran toward the danger. I never knew their names but will never forget their actions. They faded into the background as the volunteer fire department arrived.

What fire doesn’t destroy, the water will. Our possessions were incinerated, singed, saturated or infused with that lingering scent of smoke. The artificial Christmas tree stored in the attic became an oozing puddle. G.I. Joe didn’t stand a chance and neither did baseball cards, furniture, mom’s wedding dress and so many things we enjoyed.

The flames were extinguished and water streamed onto the surrounding fields. We huddled in the driveway trying to make sense of what happened as the firefighters recoiled their hoses and left the scene. Dad walked through the steaming house and came out with a stuffed animal for each of us kids and a handful of important documents. 

Some might only see what was lost that day. We see what we kept and even gained.

Within a few hours, friends came by with suitcases of clothes and a bag of groceries. That night we gathered on a hotel bed as my dad prayed, thanking God we were alive and healthy. Easter Sunday, we sat in church wearing someone else’s outfits, surrounded by the love of family and friends. Our excitement over the empty tomb was accented by the hollow shell of the parsonage everyone passed while entering the church.

By Monday an army of mothers set up a calendar of lunches for each school day. The Holiday Inn was our home for two months and as kids, we celebrated that every day someone else made our beds. For another few months we lived with our Aunt and Uncle, who also added a couple sheep to their small farm on the day we moved in. There’s nothing like farm chores to help kids pass the time that goes with displacement.

Before long the house was rebuilt and we came home. I was a kid through all of this and the vantage point is perhaps much different than had it happened today. Several lessons were forging through that fire:

1. God watches over us. There was nothing I could do to stop the fire. Something short circuited and the inferno raged. We were utterly dependent on God to protect and provide. We were not helpless, but we were then and are now dependent on God’s mercy and grace. Those attributes are sweeter on the other side of trauma (Psalm 84:11).
2. Hold everything with an open hand. We lost lots of stuff that entraps our emotions and distracts our allegiances. God simply removed layers of things that are ultimately unnecessary and left us with what will last for eternity (Col. 3:2).
3. Stay alert and act. Death lurked over our heads, alert strangers snatched us from under it. That moment transformed us to permanent alertness. How much more important is that alertness and immediate action toward spiritual danger. The parallels and urgency never leave my mind as they prompt me to act (1 Cor 16:13-14).
4. No one loves like the family of Christ. Others smothered us in Christlike love. From families that brought us clothes to my relatives on the volunteer fire department, that insane day was eclipsed by the outpouring of love from others, never to be forgotten (John 15:12-17).

Many memories are tied to specific days. The Saturday between Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday is one of them. It is also the same day on which I would years later marry the love of my life. So in all, “that” annual Saturday is always one filled with grace upon grace. As the hymn says, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”

Lansdale, Pennsylvania – Saturday, March 29 1986