Christmas Tribute to Dr. Thomas Lloyd Garrison & Dr. Kenneth "Hutch" Hutcherson

In case you haven't figured it out yet, life is an incredible journey that has little to do with you and me, especially as a Christian. It has left even some of the greatest individuals; God's direct instruments pondering (Luke 2:19,51). He baffles the wise by human terms, and executes His greatest monumental actions through culturally irrelevant individuals. Yet His fingerprints and handiwork are unmistakable. Our effectiveness requires authentic selflessness.

Merry Christmas to all of my friends and supporters of The Firstborn Son, Inc. and non-profit Family Legacy Builders. Your existence is an incredible gift to us, never mistake that fact.

I sit here in the Alaskan frontier on this wonderful Christmas day 2013 in the midst of the whitest Christmas I have seen in a long time. The short Alaskan days barely allow the sun to touch the tops of mountain peaks approximately 7000 feet above our heads, and it quickly dips back into the night shadows. I share this scenery with my family and some wonderful family friends as a warm fire burns, twinkling lights, and Christmas is surely in the air and eyes of  the children. I am amazed by how Christmas has represented diverse defining moments in my life.

At the sovereignty of God I have been allowed to see a vast variety of Christmas settings in my life time. Here are a few...

·         As a boy ('70s & '80s) in Liberia and 100 degree weather, Santa (Old Man Beggar) did not fly his sleigh delivering presents (sorry Westerners). Instead, little boys would dress one as a mask dancer and it was more a "trick or treat" approach, gathering gifts (food and money) and never tricking patrons. Definitely not the jolly old boy.

·         In the early '90s and latter teenage years Christmas bore more of an aroma of death and evil. We sat homeless in the palava hut (gazebo) of a little village, doing our utmost to prayerfully remember the celebratory birth of Jesus Christ. Yet the stench and aroma of death and lawlessness by the existence of a vicious civil war and drug induced rebels ruled the days.

·         My college and early adult years in the USA found me a great distance from my immediate family in Africa, and praying for the funds to make that once a year Christmas phone call. Yet as the commitments of college basketball would allow, I drove through the snow packed roads for hours to spend the time with my guardians Lloyd & Marge Garrison and family.

Humble & Irrelevant Births; Incredible Gifts

Luke 2:7-8 ⁷ And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a ^[d]manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. ⁸ In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.

This Christmas also bears another significant and monumental time of reflection in my life. I find myself forced to reflect upon and honor the lives of (to this date) two of the top three significant men in my life. Both Lloyd Garrison & Ken Hutcherson have gone to be with the Lord (2003 & 2013 respectively); Hutch departed within the last week. Here are excerpts from my book (The Firstborn Son: a Curse, aGift, or a Calling) about these men:

Dr. Thomas Lloyd Garrison

Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Lloyd Garrison in 1944

" I have to interject and tell you how great a man of faith Lloyd Garrison was (he has since passed on). Lloyd was an old Texan that moved his family to the northwestern United States without a whole lot of promise of material gain that man could offer. But he was amazingly influential in the planting of over twenty-five to thirty northwest churches throughout his years because his promise was from God. He would go out daily and knock on the doors of people in his community to genuinely tell them about the love of Christ and his desire to have them come and visit his church."

Marge (wife) & a part of the family at a grandson's wedding

Dr. Kenneth "Hutch" Hutcherson

Dr. Kenneth "Hutch"Hutcherson

"In that time, I have watched Hutch live the Scriptures uncompromisingly literally for the world to see. While other pastors are content to live inside the four walls of their comfortable churches and allow biblical values to be politicized and eroded, I have seen this man stand up and hold firm to the unchanging Word of God. I have seen his vision for no-charge or free adoption take up root against the big business that it is. I have seen the life of my friend and brother effectively producing lives and soldiers for God’s kingdom repeatedly.

Hutch & family at daughter's graduation

Regardless of all those wonderful accolades mentioned above, nothing of Hutch’s has impacted and influenced me more as his life in the last couple of years. I have watched my brother go through a harsh and severe bout with cancer and display truly unwavering faith. He is very much aware to what extent the possible outcomes exist, including death. No man faces those possibilities without the thoughts. However, his countenance stays strong. He made a profound statement that has impacted my life forever. For those of us who have intimate dealings and understand the man that he is, as well as his passion for the Scriptures, we say “Wow!” He once said, “You’ve watched me live for Christ. If that is where the cancer takes me, I’ll show you how to die for Christ.” With Christ indeed all things are possible. I can’t wait to see the new and renewed Hutch as he beats this cancer.

That is a view into the circle of influence that engulfs me..."

These are both men in my life who came from extremely humble beginnings as I too am fortunate to be a product. Lloyd came out of the plains of Texas. Hutch was raised in Alabama, the hub of the racist southern United States in its peak era. He was raised as a child with rage against Caucasians and told "The only good white person is a dead one."

However, as He did in the reality of Christmas, the most significant event in all of world history, only God takes the most humble births and irrelevant characters or constituents in order to submit His most masterful offerings to mankind. God chose that Christ would be born in a filthy manger (regardless of how beautiful our nativity scenes), then He chose to make His initial disclosure on the arrival of such timely event to irrelevant shepherds in the field rather than lofty kings and nobles of that culture.

In my opinion, God has done the same with Drs. Garrison and Hutcherson. He has done incredible work, and made world renowned impact with men very few have had the true pleasure or privilege of knowing, or understood the magnitude of their lives on this earth. I am referring to the fact an athlete like Lebron James has close to 11 million twitter followers thirsting for his superfluous life events compared to the critically important life lessons offered by these great men. Both men deeply understood however while the work was surely their honor, never the glory. That is God's!

Glory to God...Peace among men...He is pleased

            Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men ^[g]with           whom He is pleased.”

As I read the scripture and the words uttered by the heavenly host during the proclamation of Christ's birth, I am dumbfounded. It said God the Almighty is pleased with sinful men who He had to send a sacrificial lamb (Jesus) to save. As an emphasis to this proclamation, and with the common intent and expression of His pleasure, in Ephesians 1:9 "He made known to us the mystery of His will...purposed in Christ." In Christ God desires the best for men. We are His prime creation, and with whom he bears a key desire to restore righteous fellowship.

In examining intimately the testimony and lives of each of these men (Lloyd and Hutch), being sure to test it by the word of God, it is no doubt God is pleased. At the time of Lloyd's death, several years ago and similarly in recent days following the departure of Hutch from this life, the words and sentiments expressed by the many whose lives were impacted by them is absolutely phenomenal. It has left an incredible number of us awestruck as we observe the effectiveness of their ministries. Even arch enemies soul search for remarkable words of honor at the impact of losing them to the cold grip of death.

Despite the incredible evidence portrayed by their work on behalf of God and for the good of their fellow man, nothing speaks greater of their work than the legacy of life each man has left his family. That legacy is evident in the love for God, family unity, and more that was surely instituted by the lives each man lived. Yet everything they did, the glory of it all points to and belongs to God.

We ponder in our hearts

            Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.

We are all wondering why God will call home such effective instruments for His work on this earth, especially at such a time as this culturally. In my opinion, yes He is raising others to step in and fill the gap, continue the call. More importantly, a great observation in God's relationship and interaction with mankind centers on its disposition. We (humans) often have a need and urging to be the central and focal point of any activity we are engaged with. In far too many cases that sentiment drives us to a position of insecurity and feeling despised, or even rejected by God, or those we serve.

Mary was directly involved with the greatest event we choose to celebrate annually as Christmas. She had a personal conversation with an angel and messenger from God. Many of us would have felt God owed us the entire detail of His plan for mankind if He has chosen to involve us at such a level. Yet at multiple points through the scriptures it is revealed "Mary treasured...pondered them in her heart." A similar response from Mary occurs even as Jesus, her son, is in the midst of actions during His ministry she could not fully understand. 

Is this a question which haunts you at some level in your personal relationship with God? Are you wondering why God isn't providing greater details of His plan for your life, or the road on which He has you walking at the moment? Consider these two thoughts which will greatly enhance your effectiveness for God:

1. The incredible sovereignty of God and how He works is greatly unlike human logic, temperament, and expectations. Quit fishing for logic.
2. He does great work through us as individuals, but could choose to allow very few to know about it (as with Drs. Garrison and Hutcherson), because the glory is His, not ours.

It is amazing to see how each of these incredible individuals and critical male figures in my life, as well as the lives of many others understood so appropriately their purposes in God's mighty plan and work. It is my unquestionable prayer for you and I, as we celebrate this amazing Christmas of 2013 and New Year of 2014, would renew our perspectives on the humility God desires (Luke 2:7-8), God's pleasure & desire for man (Luke 2:14), and to Whom (not us) proper glory is due by our view of the story of Jesus' birth (Luke 2:19).

If you aren't already, please consider donating $8.99 per month to our non-profit organization (Family Legacy Builders), and very strategic work for such a time as this.Click Here To Donate!

In America, Share Your Faith & Family Values; Go To Jail?

There are many families in disarray today simply because someone in that lineage took a slight and seemingly insignificant slant from the truth. The item of focus for that slant might have also seemed undoubtedly minor in the grand scheme of life. The cost paid by the family today (possibly multiple generations later) is downright unbearable. Does this description fit your family? Are you on the cusp of taking a similar slant? How would you know, or avoid such grave error?

A. W. Tozer wrote: "The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him... [The Church] So necessary to the Church is a lofty concept of God that when that concept in any measure declines, the Church with her worship and her moral standards declines along with it... Though she may continue to cling to a sound nominal creed, her practical working creed has become false. The masses of her adherents come to believe that God is different from what He actually is; and that is heresy of the most insidious and deadly kind."


Although he speaks of the church, Tozer only a couple of paragraphs later invokes a view and similar fate for the family as it pertains to generational parental responsibility. Was he inaccurate? 

• In recent weeks the United Nation continues to consider the "Defamation of Religion" resolution introduced in 2009 by radical Islam within the OIC, if I recall correctly, aimed primarily at Christians. With regards to free speech and anti-oppression which the UN advocates as a main charter, it is appalling the thought is even considered. Yet a vote on this resolution is pending and the dialog continues.

• There is a long standing feud in the United States, a nation founded on Christ-like principles by bible believing forefathers, concerning chaplains and the "defamation of religion" within the military.

What is our response to these issues? Why do we allow these conversations to linger? Have we given it any credibility, or is it insignificant? The evidence is in our actions...

In my opinion, the answer is simple (obvious), yet it holds a magnitude of grandeur in its impact. The answer or our proper reaction is propelled by our view of God as depicted by AW Tozer's comments above. However, I wish to add a couple of more thoughts from the Bible (book of Galatians). Why? Because the only thing that is true about God is what He says about Himself. The Apostle Paul is also warning believers who know the truth yet run the risk of embracing the "slant". As such consider this please...

• We have erroneously created worthless and unworthy (idolatry) views of God the Almighty. - Galatians 4:8 But at that previous time, when you had not come to be acquainted with and understand and know the true God, you [Gentiles] were in bondage to gods who by their very nature could not be gods at all [gods that really did not exist].

• We must be acutely aware of the danger of the slant in our faith and family values. - Galatians 5:9 A little leaven (a slight inclination to error, or a few false teachers) leavens the whole lump [it perverts the whole conception of faith or misleads the whole church].

• Christians are to view this issue in light of our submission to the flesh or Spirit. - Galatians 5:24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires.

• We must know the evidences and understand what our adoration of the flesh looks like. - Galatians 5:19-21 Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency, Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies), Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 

At the end of it all this questions remains and will provide the answer and security we seek if answered correctly. Is our view of God grand enough and proper to ward of our natural (fleshly) invitations of destruction in our midst?

If you aren't already, please consider donating $8.99 per month to our non-profit organization (Family Legacy Builders), and very strategic work for such a time as this. Click Here To Donate!

Father-Shift Restores Fathers to the Fatherless!

Far too often we hear rumors and reports of how the fatherless epidemic or our culture, nation, and our world (human trafficking, prostitution, child soldiers, etc) is too significant a cost to ignore or bear. In a previous blogpost titled "Cultural role model or a father figure to the fatherless?" I tackled this issue a little deeper. What is your contribution in the fight against this epidemic?

If you haven't got your hands dirty yet in this matter, or even if you are already involved, I want to introduce you to a wonderful opportunity. It is as simple as this, do your part to bring a Father-Shift Conference to your city. It is a tremendous opportunity to not only raise awareness, but you will bring instant help and solutions to the wounded (father wounds), and support for those with the means to provide solution to the problem in so many ways.

Here is a link to an article and interview that was featured on The Christian Post. Click here to read "Christian Leaders Combat Epidemic of Fatherless Families With Father-Shift". Then join the movement to do your part by inviting a Father-Shift Conference to your city.

Starbucks, Subway "Eat Fresh", & Successful Family... What's Common?

I took a a remarkable trip this weekend, sadly without my family but purposeful nonetheless. Nestled in the midst of swampland, under frequent surveillance and monitoring via radio communication, sits a juvenile detention center for young men. Its occupants are within the age ranges of 18 to 23 or so. They possess unimaginable personal and family circumstances of all kinds which have landed them where they are. They are what many, including the guilty one who writes this blog, has one time or another called "Menace To Society". Yet they taught me a lesson for six non-stop hours that I could never gain in the presence of University of Oxford scholars.

What's the lesson you wonder? We seek evil erroneously, or excellence and nobility in this fleeting life. Yet only one cord strikes a joyful rhythm every time we dialog. Its family! We, God's greatest creation (mankind), are created for family fellowship (Gen 1:26-28). Yes I knew that. But joy on the faces, the witty interactions, the expressions of warm appreciation, during and after a non-stop six-hour presentation on Successful Family Legacy to "so called" outcasts of society cannot be nearly matched. These were young men who daily ingest some of the worse anti-depressant drugs you can imagine for emotional stability. Yet not a single incident nor distraction of any kind ruled the day. Instead it was the sweet sound (discussion) of family. At the conclusion they all proudly received a certificate of completion.

So what do Starbucks, Subway "Eat Fresh", & Successful Family have in common? In my opinion nothing. However we are now an official non-profit (Family Legacy Builders) in the state of Washington. The money spent for a stop or two at Starbucks or Subway "Eat Fresh" can easily create many more of the wonderful moments described in the paragraphs above. Besides being a tax-free donation for you to our non-profit, your $9 per month will go a long way in allowing us to conduct the Successful Family Legacy Seminar in prisons, churches, schools, and various communities across this nation. Click Here for some reviews by past seminar attendees.

To donate, all you have to do is become a monthly member of our Successful Family Legacy community. Click here to enroll. The site and community contains a variety of great resources to enhance your life and family including audio of our flagship product Successful Family Legacy Seminar, monthly family legacy teleconferences, member-only Facebook community for support, and more. We are continuously adding and growing the list or resources.

Below are two images which greatly motivate us and we pray would motivate you to join our team for improving families.

Not so long ago (1960) the level of married individuals in the country was significantly higher than the current statistics. We are now establishing a clear reversal of the trends in favor of single parenting and cohabitation. The consequences for such actions are clearly destructive on so many fronts. Although these evidences are more impacting on the spiritual, moral, and generational (children) levels in my personal opinion, the financial aspect is significantly severe also.

The image on the right side of these words is a clear depiction of the demoralization of our society. If marriage is declining and single-parenting and cohabitation is on the rise, then we have a serious problem. The country's current debt concern is evidence of a clear correlation to the poverty indicators the image portrays. The more we drive marriage out the more poverty we welcome.


Please join our community and become a monthly donor to this incredible cause. We will love for you to join us in person wherever possible. Nevertheless, only by your prayers and your donations are we able to do the work. Be confident we are ready to work!

In The Crucible or Your Captivity?

When in moments of intense suffering and uncertainty you are in the crucible with God or a captive of the devil. In the crucible or your captivity, either will impose pain but it's purpose rests in the eyes of the beholder. Both will produce a fate whose product rests in the selection of your master, God or the devil. Pray your choice is accurate for the sake of purification and refinement into something precious.

This past weekend I had the tremendous privilege of speaking to several teenagers and young adults at a couple of juvenile detention centers. What a tremendous day and opportunity. From the start of my week of preparation it was obvious to me there was a battle raging between good and evil. I felt uneasy and restless. The devil surely intends on keeping his captives, while God the father desires to set captives free. My only remedy was to immediately call upon an army of prayer warriors to cover the full week with prayers.

The battle is real and the day of the event only seems to solidify that reality. That morning as I literally began my setup for speaking to the young lives in the detention facility, my computer failed to boot-up. After multiple attempts, we prayed and I spoke without it. My travel to the next location required some extended time and I continually tried to boot-up my computer with no success. Upon my arrival at the next location I was immediately informed most of my audience would not attend due to the lock-down of several resident halls. An incident occurred that morning. The devil is intent on holding his captives.

I asked my host if I could use his computer which was working perfectly fine as we commenced setup. Twenty minutes later, although the computer acknowledges the existence and installation of my external drive we could not locate my files. With the audience in wait, the solution required the use of a third and slightly remote computer in order to access my files. Finally, all of my tools were available as designed. Due to time constraints we could not engage in worship songs to prepare our hearts. With a short intro I began to speak immediately. The end result was approximately 70% of my audience stood to rededicate their lives to Christ and fill a firstborn son role for their family. Each person also committed to build a new personal and family legacy.

The view and perspective of our personal crucible is powerfully critical at every moment we spend within. A crucible is a place or occasion of severe test and trial. A crucible is a place of intense and concentrated heat used to purify and refine precious minerals such as gold and silver. The juveniles had to realize their crucible (confinement) is for purification and refinement, not merely detention for their failures. As such, each person's fate or the product of the crucible is dependent on which master (God or devil) he serves. The same also goes for the legacy (family and personal) each detainee leaves, especially upon departure from detention.

The Apostle Paul gives us an image of the ultimate end goal, the victor's crown in 2 Timothy 4:6-8. Paul also does a masterful job of revealing to us his personal crucible of shipwrecks, imprisonment, robberies, and more in 2 Corinthians 11:21-29. Mature Christians understand the purpose of suffering, while the world is confused about suffering as is revealed by King David's situation in 2 Samuel 12:15-23. David's servants could not understand his behavior of relief following the death of his child for which he had spent days fasting and praying for healing.

We must allow our personal crucible, whatever it may be, to achieve its designed purpose with proper perspective, and in submission to the one true Master, God the Father.

Unfamiliar Truths: Build Successful Family Legacy

This article is a contribution to the INNER PEACE PARENTING magazine August, 2013 edition produce out of Turin, Italy. The edition is a contribution of over sixty worldwide parenting professionals and The Global Presence Ambassadors of Parenting 2.0. Parenting 2.0 seeks to raise humanity collaboratively and consciously.

Unfamiliar Truths

Build Successful Family Legacy

“Successful Family Legacy” is the comprehensive solution to the structural & social breakdown of society caused by the growing number of broken families.

As a father and important community leader, Eli chose to engage in passive parenting of his sons Hophni and Phinehas. The sons’ grave abuse of Eli’s position and legacy saw them repeatedly take advantage of the people he led. Eli refused to impose strong consequences upon his sons for their behavior. His only response appeared to be conversations which carried no weight or merit. The evidence was his son’s refusal to obey his words or correct their behaviors. 

When a behavioral concern is brought before some parents regarding their children, they expect a mere conversation is sufficient as oppose to a more decisive and necessary approach. These parents choose the proverbial “look the other way” response. Eli’s behavior resulted in the lost lives of his sons, himself, and consequently his legacy or family lineage.

Passive parents produce a generation of tyrants and selfish adults. Overprotective parents produce a generation of socially and intellectually handicapped adults. There has to be a balance of authoritative engagement on the part of parents, and an embrace of submissive responsibility on the part of children.

Here’s an observation. When it is time to lose weight we seek out a personal trainer or a diet regimen. The necessity of that decision lies in the need for structure, on-going evaluation, and accountability through the process. We write a business plan at the beginning of a promising venture for the benefit of clarity regarding the structure and purpose we pursue. Do we have a similar vehicle for creating our successful family now, and ushering our legacy of social behavior to future generations?

My siblings and I vividly remember my father’s words in our moments disobedience or errors. Those words, especially to our mother who expected a stricter response, were “Let the children shoulder (handle) their problems.” He created an environment to teach personal responsibility and accountability amongst his children. Although memorable when dealt, his direct disciplinary actions were a last resort if we refused to correct our behaviors.

Today in my home the common phrase is “Bambolos behave …”, or “Bambolos don’t cheat or lie.” As early as three years old our children begin to repeat that phrase and take ownership of the fact that family responsibility and unity supersedes personal happiness. We are committed to conduct ourselves in a manner which honors the family. Such a conviction must be first consistently demonstrated by husband and wife, mother and father, or adult leadership.

Start today and implement a “statement of identity and vision”, a social legacy for your family.

New Website With More Family Building Resources

The Firstborn Son, Inc. has unveiled a new and improved website targeting strategic growth with more family building resources. We exist to build strong families regardless of the aggressive anti-family challenges rumbling within the culture. Conveying the importance of successful family legacy in truth through stories, videos, statistical facts, speeches, and more will ensure lasting success is found and sustained for our families. Here is a unique taste.

Liberians and Africans in general are notorious for teaching their young ones through fables and wise tales. Interestingly, these stories are told with animal and insect characters such as spider, dog, monkey, and more. There is a tale to teach against greediness whose plot portrays the spider, which once had a normal size waist, today has a tiny waist because of his greed. He committed to two feasts, at different villages, at the same time. Unfortunately he encouraged each village to pull on ropes he tied around the waist when the feasts began. You can imagine what happened. Moral of the story is greed will cost you.

There is also a tale for teaching children to avoid deceit. In this plot the spider, generally noted for insincerity and cunning behavior, chooses the dog as his eating partner at a massive feast. Spider's plan was to eat most of the food the duo was given. Glancing at the dog, spider expected the dog's nose was actually his mouth and there was no way dog could eat at a rapid rate with such a small mouth. Spider chose to arrogantly leave for a potty break as the food was being served. He expected to return with barely any food eaten by dog and he would then devour everything rapidly. Upon his return all the food was gone. Flabbergasted, he asked dog "How did you do that?" It was at that moment dog opened his mouth and spider saw the true size of dog's mouth. Spider's deceitful plan cost him greatly when it backfired. That fable teaches kids to interact truthfully with their peers and others.

Until recent years, and in some traditional cases still, history and truth has always been passed down through families and tribes orally. Villages would have an oral historian also sometimes known as the "Town Crier". His responsibility was to transfer accurate history of a people's past which is critical to the construct of their present and future.

In the context of today's family, that strategically priceless  process of honoring our history, and subsequently constructing our present and future upon its truths is what we at The Firstborn Son, Inc term as "successful family legacy".

At your new and improved The Firstborn Son website you will find:

• A simple menu for navigating important pages (event, store, contact, etc.)
• A rolling banner of selfless virtues critical to building and leading a healthy family
• Featured Section: Entities we are serving soon (inspirational speaking, seminar, events, etc.)
• Top Projects: Activities you can join us to serve and build strong families & communities
• Client Section: Entities we have been honored to serve in the past

We look forward to growing with and serving you for many years to come. Please explore and enjoy your new and improved website.