“such as”

Proud to be a South Carolinan.

nuff said.

In Need of a Good Spiritual Cleansing

A friend from Florida just called to tell me he was giving me a passenger van. When you do what I do, that’s really great news.

The story: He was at a private auction for a business guy that went belly up. As he was walking out he heard the autioneer calling “Gimme one thousand one thousand, five hundred five hundred gimme five hundred, two fifty two fifty two fifty somebody gimme two fifty...” Just then God spoke to him and said “Buy it.” He didn’t even know what it was, but he turned around and held up his placard. Turned out to be a 15 passenger van which he had no need for. He won the bid and called to ask if I wanted it. No catch!

Here’s the funny part. The unfortunate business guy was a former band manager and concert promoter. He created the bands Backstreet Boys and ’N Sync. This is the van he used to haul them around before they got big.

Pictured above are A.J., Kevin, Brian, Nick and Howie. OK, now you know I had to Wikipedia that junk to tell which one was which. Good grief, I can only imagine the comments now.

Neighborhood Mischief or Word from God

Some artistic heart must have just been aching for expression which I can totally appreciate. Someone finally defaced the water tower in our quiet little neighborhood. I knew it couldn't remain irresistible forever. I mean, c’mon. It's basically a gigantic blank canvas. If someone else didn't do it, I probably would have done it myself. At least no one has to climb up there to defend their sister’s honor.

For what it’s worth I couldn’t agree with their sentiments more.

Up for Grabs?

I had been seeing this book recently, and the title certainly captured my imagination. I haven't been an in-depth student of Graham, but I've studied the historical circumstances surrounding the inception of his ministry- Graham, Bill Bright and others erupted on the scene at about the same time due to fasting.

I had been thinking about this book entertaining wild thoughts of what it must have been like to be personal friends with 11 Presidents. I've always admired Graham's ministry from afar. I can think of no other public figure that has walked with such purity, humility and sincerity. He has managed to remain above reproach which is saying a lot.

I'm reading this book now, and I feel like I'm supposed to read it now. On Saturday I was walking through Barnes & Noble, and I passed the sale table and saw it sitting there. It had been popping up in front of me on several occasions gripping me each time I saw it. This time was no different, and I picked it up and began to thumb through it. Everyone knows that Graham is well on in years and that old age has brought expected health challenges for him. He doesn't travel anymore. The crusades are in the past–part of the memories of a life well lived. His own admission is that "I don't have much longer." I couldn't help but think as I flipped through the pages that his mantile is about to pass.

At that exact moment my phone beeped. It was a text message from a close friend of mine Steve Hickey. I almost couldn't believe it. The message read:

“This Preacher and the Presidents book is very important. Do you have one yet? His governmental influence mantle is soon to pass.”

Needless to say, I bought the book, and I'm hoping to glean something valuable from its pages.

The Starving Artist

OK, not quite starving. A better title may have been "The Unmotivated Blogger."

Things have been pretty busy for the last month or so. Since theCall Nashville on 07.07.07, I've been building a small team to mobilize Bound4LIFE around the country. It has been fruitful as many new chapters have started as a result. Thanks to Ian, Monica, Rhonda, Katie, Craig and of course my lovely wife Kim.

At the beginning of August God led us on a remarkable journey to Iowa. I spoke at the Key of David annual prayer conference for the Heartland House of Prayer in Council Bluffs, IA on 8/4. Then our team led a state-wide prayer tour focusing on the seven abortion clinics there. We hit six cities in six days–Council Bluffs, Sioux City, Bettendorf, Iowa City (2 clinics), Cedar Rapids and Des Moines. We then ended our tour at the state capitol on Friday 8/10. One of our key prayer targets was that the abortion issue would be driven like a wedge into the 2008 Presidential elections. The following day, 8/11, Iowa held its Straw Poll. The results had Mitt Romney finishing first, Mike Huckabee finishing second and Sam Brownback finishing third.

I recently published the Bound4LIFE Field Guide. Basically, it's all the vision and experience of the last two and half years condensed into a practical "how to" book. We're really excited about it, and it's proving to be a valuable mobilization tool. Right now we're having it translated into Spanish because we feel the Lord is leading us to work with the Hispanic community (I really wish I hadn't taken two years of French in high school). It's also being translated into Dutch as we have a group in Holland wanting to start Bound4LIFE Amsterdam.

On a more personal note we're praying through some financial struggles right now. Since Lou Engle asked us to take over as directors of Bound4LIFE in January, we haven't been under the financial cover of the larger ministry. We have great momentum and exposure, but in many ways it feels like the painful early days of beginning a start-up operation. We pursuing several directions right now to build a strong support base to fuel what we feel God is doing in the nation right now.

On yet an even more personal note I'd also like to ask for your help. Missionary support is vital for our family to sustain this work. We are so thankful that we've been enabled to chase down this dream for over two years now. We feel like we're in a critical breakthrough season to see this vision move forward. If you're reading this, would you prayerfully consider joining us in raising up a massive prayer movement in America and abroad? There's a few ways available to give:
1. There's a PayPal link up at the top right that will process a donation immediately.
2. You can drop something in the mail to:
Matt & Kim Lockett
5023 Weber Court
Fort Mill, SC 29715
3. If you'd like to make a tax-deductible gift, make your check payable to "Bound4LIFE," and indicate on the memo line "Donation for Locketts."
Mail to:
Bound4LIFE
5023 Weber Court
Fort Mill, SC 29715

Thanks to everyone for your help and support. It is much appreciated.

Which is worse?

To make no blog entry at all or simply to put something that says nothing?

Never has so little been said with so many words.

Forgive me.