Real Heroes and Accountability

Last week, the Daytona 500 completed its 55th annual race. Being the new kid on the block, I did not know that the Daytona 500 is the champion of all NASCAR. In its great history, the Daytona 500 is referred to as the “Super Bowl” of NASCAR. This is something we can all be proud of and it’s so exciting to be a part of a ministry that serves this great race. For all of you who served, thanks do not seem enough! It was simply amazing to see thousands of people in attendance and all pulling for their drivers and sponsors. For those who didn’t know it Jimmie Johnson won. I don’t claim to be an expert on auto-racing so I won’t pretend! But I love it. Yes…I join the crowd who fantasizes everyday about getting into a car and hitting the track (even if it is I-95) we become Jimmie Johnson or whomever and we are the winner for the day…a hero right? But reality sets in and we are just regular people in a mesmerizing crowd, living a mundane life in an insane world! The fact is no person is perfect and our heroes are sometime less than perfect. Reality set in for me last month as my sports hero Dan Marino’s hidden life became public. I could not believe it…this is a joke before the Super Bowl… not Dan the man! I followed his career from college to retirement and even after that… I remember his rookie season and was there when he re-wrote the history of the NFL…One of the greatest quarterbacks ever! I watched him practice and took my children to training camp, even dressing them up in #13 jerseys. I will never forget the night I met Dan Marino during a formal evening fund-raising event. I was sitting at the next table and knew he and his wife were leaving. I left the table before they left, but my hero Dan stopped and went to the restroom. I spoke to his wife Clair for a second and then he came down the hall. I spent two minutes speaking to him and shook his hand…stumbled back to the table where I proudly showed my hand to the crowd, vowing to never wash my right hand again! I know no one is perfect, but last month’s news of my fallen hero was a letdown…so much for sports heroes! Real heroes aren’t perfect I know, but as Christians we do look up to people of great faith…spiritual giants we admire, though not perfect! My father remains the greatest man to me and my grandfather the greatest Christian to walk this earth. The multitude of Christian leaders (pastors, professors, church leaders either still alive or gone on to be with the Lord) who invested their lives into me, all had several common denominators.

1. They loved Jesus

2. They loved God’s word

3. They loved people

4. They believed in accountability!

In my ministry, I make myself accountable to you. (I let Beth know where I am in my time and ministry schedule) I make myself accountable to my wife and communicate with her all the time. The name of the game is Accountability! You see, we serve an awesome God and as leaders, everything we do should be transparent and above board! Speaking of transparency, I have to admit I’m a few weeks behind in my prayer walking so give me some time to catch up! We do have a lot happening in our association! Raceway ministering to thousands, getting closer to a pre-launch of our Biker church, the formation of an associational Vacation Bible School team, Prayer wave, mission trip planning, the praise of having over 80 young people accept Christ at the annual “Silver Ring Thing” led by First Baptist Palm Coast and Palm Coast Community Church, the dedication of the new sanctuary of Primera Iglesia Bautista de Palm Coast, the word of spiritual renewal in some of our churches and other things tells me God is blessing the HBA and for this I am so thankful!

Let’s just keep moving forward, reaching people for Jesus Christ!

Love you guys!

Pastor Marty

He, who walks wit