Train Up A Child

I'm pretty sure it means this...
I hope that it doesn't mean this:Only time will tell! Let's all hope and pray for the best!

Blessings...To Our Friends,
Frank Sanchez

"You Do All Things Well..."

Hello All,

I may have blogged before about a time in my life that was very influential to my development as a Christian, a drummer and a Pastor. It was during my time with Pastor Rod Collins, when I was playing in the Saturday Night Life worship band. Someday, I'll write more about what that means, but I was musing on a certain song that became an anthem at SNL.

It was called "His Banner Over Me." At one point in the song, the words would say "His banner over you, his banner over me, his banner over us, is love, love, love." What I will always remember about this particular song, was that when we came to this part, the band would point at each other. "His banner over you..." Kim would point at Joe, Scott would point at Kenny, etc. It was a sweet time.

At the end of that song, after talking about the Lord's banner over our lives, a picture of His protective providence in the lives of believer's lives, we sang a lyric that stated, "You do all things well, just look at our lives!"

This particular song lyric rang in my heart this week as I heard whispers and rumors of God's work in people's lives that I have been praying for for what feels like an eternity. In most of these situations, there have been times when it seemed like their trial would end. News would come and it would sound like God was done testing them. And then, a new turn would show itself, and we were back to prayer, praying for the cessation of the trial.

In most of these cases, we have asked the question, "Lord, how long will you allow this to continue?" I'll be honest, I have never heard Him answer this. I have never heard Him give me a definitive timeline. His answer is generally reflective of His Word. "Let patience have her perfect work...." "I am the Lord..." "I will never leave nor forsake..."

I have told people for years that God never tells them the end of their story. For one, such knowledge is worthless in the middle of pain. I mean, who when they are in pain care to hear, someday you will be healthy/whole/released. That never helps in the moment, at least not in a abiding way. It might give that person a ray of hope, but their present pain circumstance is still right there in that moment.

But even more, if God told you how He was going to answer something, you would not believe it! You can't see how He is going to orchestrate someone's repentance. You can't see how He is going to change a heart and a mind. At that point in linear time, we cannot fathom the Father's wisdom and plan.

So, it's back to prayer, feeling helpless, though our hearts know that we are winning, and drawing from the only resource that we have that we know is proven. You keep praying, seeking and knocking, hoping for a resolution, but being drawn instead into a heart that is beginning to rest in God's work.

It's when that happens in my life, when I am absolutely at the end of my rope, that God brings relief and answers. Two scenarios happened like that this week. Time will tell if this is not just another turn in the road or not, but if these things play out like they sound, I will have truly witnessed some miracles!

It leads me back to what I started with. God does all things well! I would have had Him relieve the pressure. I would have had Him shortcut the process. I would have settled for much less. I wanted relief; He wanted to show His power!

Truthfully, I pray that these things resolve in this way. But what if they don't? What if I go back to prayer and wrestle and struggle with the Lord some more? Either way, God gets more of what He is interested in: The development of my character and the character of the ones that I am praying for! Both parties go back to reliance and trust in the Lord, and reaffirm their allegiance to the God that we trust is just doing what He does...well!

Blessings...To Our Friends,
Frank Sanchez

Prayers Answered...

Hello All,

I asked one blog entry ago for your prayers. Tonight, I am able to post some results. First, with regard to George Sabolick. George had a massive heart attack on Sunday while attending the N.A.M.M. (National Association Of Music Merchants) show in Anaheim. Because of the trauma of the event, he was put into an induced coma and the fear at the time was that if he made it through surgery, there would likely be some brain damage. Thankfully, the surgery was a success and as of last night, George was talking and accepting visitors!

Though I have only had a few conversations with George and his wife Donna, I have spent quite a bit more time with the Sabolick Twins, my rhythm section mates, Adam and Jordan. Bass player and guitar player respectively, I genuinely love these guys and am thankful that their Dad is alright. They had to travel back from a national tour to be here, and both acknowledge the Lord's hand in bringing them back. For their sakes, I prayed the hardest, not wanting them to lose their Father.

On the home front for the Sanchez family, Renae also emerged from her surgery Monday morning, drowsy and a little out of it. Renae's adenoids, as suspected, were very infected when removed. We hope that these are the cause of what has been a history of poor health in her life. Her mom REALLY HOPES that this was the root cause, if you know what I mean!? As for the surgery itself, I was told that she was commended by the doctors and nurses for being a model patient. She has been slowly recovering her equilibrium over the week and seems to be well on her way to better health. She will be back at school on Monday, but cannot do P.E. or run and play like she is accustomed to. If you would like to pray that she would be able to have fun without being her usual crazy self, that would be appreciated!

Thank you again for your prayers.

Blessings...To Our Friends,
Frank Sanchez

Prayers All Around...

Hello All,

I am asking all of our blog readership for prayer today. First and foremost, for Pastor George Sabolick, who endured a heart attack yesterday while at the NAMM show in Anaheim. Some details have been disseminated, but I am not comfortable putting them up here for my lack of familiarity with the entire process. I will say that I know George to be a kind man, with a deep and sincere love for the Lord. I also ask for prayers for his sweet wife Dona and their boys, especially my bandmates at Kingsfield Church, Adam and Jordan, who spent a good deal of today traveling back from the East Coast, where they had been on tour. Lord willing, I will be able to give a good report about this situation soon.

On a less serious note, in terms of severity, my daughter Renae will be going into surgery early Monday morning to have her adenoids removed. I am proud of my daughter, who has had many doctors visits, but did not cave under fear tonight when I asked her if she was afraid of anything that she would like to share. She admitted fear of snakes, scorpions and bats, but not of any surgery, which for her is a big deal! We ask that you pray that this surgery will be effective in clearing up Renae's constant health battles, which amount to a little girl who feels terrible, but cannot emotionally add it up most days.

In many ways, it feels weird to ask for prayer when there is a brother who is fighting for his life. But tonight there is global conflict, there is injustice on a large scale, in two days America will have a new President and still more, there are Christians who are living underground, hoping for just the chance to have a new page of scripture.

Yet, the Lord beckons us to bring our cares to Him, for He cares for us. There is no small thing, and consequently, no big thing to Him. So for all this and more, I ask you to go to Him believing without a doubt that He is more than able to handle it all. May the Lord heal George and may He alleviate the suffering that Renae has suffered. Jesus, we trust you for it all!

Blessings...To Our Friends,
Frank Sanchez