Hi Folks!

Twice during the past week I have encountered the story of Hernando Cortez, a man who took possession of a great treasure that all thought was an "impossible" mission. The Inca treasure had been held for 600 years and had been defended from numerous attacks. But Cortez was different. He chose to make this treasure the single focus of his quest. He assembled an army of between 500 and 600 men. He charted the trip and made his way to the Yucatan Peninsula. He landed his troops, and then he did two things which Andy Andrews reminds us were absolutely vital to his success.

The first thing he did was practice. His men didn't just charge in to the Inca capital and demand the treasure. They planned the effort. They practiced the effort. Some say they might have just been lucky, but Gary P_layer_, the golfer, said, "the more I practice, the luckier I get." So the army of Cortez practiced and "visioned" where they would go and what they would do.

The second thing that Cortez did was, after assembling the troops, he gave a three word order that changed the army's outlook on the battle. He said, "Burn the boats!" If they were going to fight, they would fight as an army that didn't have any option except to win.

I thought about the look on the faces of those troops. Some were reflecting on the faces of the wives and children at home. Some may have had the look of fear that any rational person should have had when fighting an army that had defended the treasure for 600 years. But I'll bet this. I believe no face in that crowd was unchanged. I'll bet no heart wasn't convicted and convinced to fight hard to win and to live.

As we go into a watershed year for our church and for God's work here in South Walton County, what is written on our faces and in our hearts? Have we planned and asked God for a vision? Yes, and we are listening and modifying that vision as God leads us. Have we planned and practiced our part in what is ahead? Yes. Every Sunday we are standing before God saying, "YES God, by your grace and guidance we can do all that you have asked of us!" And have we burned the boats? This year, I can truthfully say, yes! We have budgeted what we called our "surplus" and we will probably end the year with very little reserve.

But you say, "Randy, what will we do?" We'll do what God's people have done throughout history when they have faced hard battles and enemies that others have failed to conquer. We will remember Biblical words expressed in a wonderful Twila Paris song, "The battle is the Lord's, and He will conquer all our enemies, with His right hand. And He will sustain, He will obtain His victory." Do I think we will overcome the obstacles ahead? Yes! Do I know the details on how this will happen? No! That is not the real question. The real question is, "Do I trust You Lord?" The answer for your preacher is, YES!

In Christ's Love, Randy