A Pastor's Ponderings: (April 2022) Dr. Doug Stauffer, Journalist

 A Pastor's Ponderings: Called to be Resurrection Witnesses

By Pastor Doug Stauffer

Faith Independent Baptist Church

Journalist for Bay Life Newspaper

April 2022--Article 16 (2022-04-016)

Easter or Resurrection Sunday? So, why a distinction? Some believers refer to Easter as Resurrection Sunday, and for good reason. The Christian's blessed hope resides in two stages: 1. Christ's resurrection from death, hell, and the grave almost two thousand years ago. 2. The resurrection of believers when we unite with Him.

 Interestingly, the Bible refers to Easter only once. "Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And when he had apprehended (Peter), he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people (Acts 12:1-4 KJV). This pagan king (Herod) planned on waiting until he celebrated Easter to kill another Christian.

I have never seen the resurrected Christ, but by faith, I know that one day I will meet Him face-to-face. I know this because the Bible tells me so, but far too many people have never heard. I speak this to my shame because God gives believers the power to be His witnesses. "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me" (Acts 1:8a).

Believing the gospel requires faith, and the resurrection is one aspect of the gospel consisting of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel…By which also ye are saved…how that Christ died for our sins…And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day" (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). The gospel that saves is simply someone believing (and trusting) in Christ's atoning sacrifice: trusting in His death, burial and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

We are to be witnesses. Judas Iscariot betrayed the Lord for thirty pieces of silver. After his betrayal, he took his own life, and a replacement had to be chosen. I want us to consider the charge for his replacement: one must be ordained to witness or preach Christ's resurrection, "from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection (Acts 1:22b). Every believer is given this same charge—to be His witness.

Peter repeatedly testified that all the believers were witnesses of Christ's resurrection. "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses" (Acts 2:32). "And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses" (Acts 3:15). The Bible sums it up: "And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus (Acts 4:33a).

 "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him" (Acts 5:30-32). 

Paul testifying the same truth. "But God raised him from the dead: 31 And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people" (Acts 13:30-31).

So…Happy Resurrection Day! Be a witness to a world desperately looking for hope, desperately looking for answers. Keep looking up for our redemption draweth nigh.

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Commissioner's Prayer Breakfast One of a Kind (March 2022-3) Dr. Doug Stauffer, Journalist

Commissioner's Prayer Breakfast One of a Kind

By Pastor Doug Stauffer

Faith Independent Baptist Church

Journalist for Bay Life Newspaper

March 2022--Article 15 (2022-03-015)

Okaloosa County and the city of Niceville were blessed to have a rare visit from the Lieutenant Governor. It was my distinct honor to host Lt. Governor Nuñez at the Niceville Senior Center with twenty varied Okaloosa County Representatives. The gathering was intended to introduce the Lt. Governor to Niceville and Niceville to the Lt. Governor.  

The Lt. Governor gave a great speech and mentioned how she fully supported the Governor's policies and positions, including election integrity, critical race theory, cancel culture, and preserving religious liberties. She also supported his positions regarding K-12 education, vaccine mandates and passports, etc. She stood firm in not allowing the egregious government overreach forced by other governors upon their constituents.

Big government, by design, increases the citizens' dependence upon the government. This administration determined not to use the pandemic to intensify a crisis and increase government control over businesses, education, healthcare and families in the state of Florida.

The Lt. Governor also mentioned the small margin of victory in the 2018 gubernatorial election—less than 33,000 votes. She sounded the clarion call for Floridians to understand that your vote matters and every vote counts. In Florida, we learned how much elections matter and that things could have been very different (during Covid) if the election had swung in the other direction. She cautioned us not to take our basic constitutional liberties for granted, a message that did not fall on deaf ears.

Dr. Mike Mosley, Rocky Bayou Christian School superintendent, said the Lt. Governor's speech charged his batteries. Dr. Mosley mentioned her comments on job creation, maintaining low taxes, protecting our water quality and the environment, and bettering our education system. As a lifelong K-12 educator, he appreciated the administration's position on in-person school because children need more than a Zoom education. Florida will have a competitive advantage in the future over the states that have lost two years of quality schooling. History will judge this administration's decisions as some of the most critical choices made during one of history's most significant times.

From 2010-2018, Lt. Governor Nuñez served in the Florida House of Representatives, also serving as speaker pro tempore for her final two years in office. She is a businesswoman who served in several healthcare industry capacities. She also worked for FIU (Florida International University) as an adjunct professor and advisor. When the world turned upside down in March of 2020, none of us could have imagined how important her background would be.

The Lt. Governor said she appreciated the educational and spiritual investment her parents made. "Looking back, I've learned that God was putting me in the right place to have experiences and knowledge for what was to be my future. I say this because as a fully devoted follower of Christ, the beliefs and values instilled in me at a young age have shaped me, laying the groundwork for the type of faithfulness I would need in this line of work."

The Lt. Governor mentioned her favorite verse as Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

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Commissioner Mel Ponder

Dr. Mike Mosley

Sheriff Eric Aden

Dr. Devin Stephenson

Lt. Governor Nunez Visits Niceville (March 2022-2) Dr. Doug Stauffer, Journalist

Lt. Governor Nunez Visits Niceville

By Pastor Doug Stauffer

Faith Independent Baptist Church

Journalist for Bay Life Newspaper

March 2022--Article 14 (2022-03-014)

Okaloosa County and the city of Niceville were blessed to have a rare visit from the Lieutenant Governor. It was my distinct honor to host Lt. Governor Nuñez at the Niceville Senior Center with twenty varied Okaloosa County Representatives. The gathering was intended to introduce the Lt. Governor to Niceville and Niceville to the Lt. Governor.  

The Lt. Governor gave a great speech and mentioned how she fully supported the Governor's policies and positions, including election integrity, critical race theory, cancel culture, and preserving religious liberties. She also supported his positions regarding K-12 education, vaccine mandates and passports, etc. She stood firm in not allowing the egregious government overreach forced by other governors upon their constituents.

Big government, by design, increases the citizens' dependence upon the government. This administration determined not to use the pandemic to intensify a crisis and increase government control over businesses, education, healthcare and families in the state of Florida.

The Lt. Governor also mentioned the small margin of victory in the 2018 gubernatorial election—less than 33,000 votes. She sounded the clarion call for Floridians to understand that your vote matters and every vote counts. In Florida, we learned how much elections matter and that things could have been very different (during Covid) if the election had swung in the other direction. She cautioned us not to take our basic constitutional liberties for granted, a message that did not fall on deaf ears.

Dr. Mike Mosley, Rocky Bayou Christian School superintendent, said the Lt. Governor's speech charged his batteries. Dr. Mosley mentioned her comments on job creation, maintaining low taxes, protecting our water quality and the environment, and bettering our education system. As a lifelong K-12 educator, he appreciated the administration's position on in-person school because children need more than a Zoom education. Florida will have a competitive advantage in the future over the states that have lost two years of quality schooling. History will judge this administration's decisions as some of the most critical choices made during one of history's most significant times.

From 2010-2018, Lt. Governor Nuñez served in the Florida House of Representatives, also serving as speaker pro tempore for her final two years in office. She is a businesswoman who served in several healthcare industry capacities. She also worked for FIU (Florida International University) as an adjunct professor and advisor. When the world turned upside down in March of 2020, none of us could have imagined how important her background would be.

The Lt. Governor said she appreciated the educational and spiritual investment her parents made. "Looking back, I've learned that God was putting me in the right place to have experiences and knowledge for what was to be my future. I say this because as a fully devoted follower of Christ, the beliefs and values instilled in me at a young age have shaped me, laying the groundwork for the type of faithfulness I would need in this line of work."

The Lt. Governor mentioned her favorite verse as Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

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Trey Gowdy: Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (March 2022-1) Dr. Doug Stauffer, Journalist

Trey Gowdy: Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

By Pastor Doug Stauffer

Faith Independent Baptist Church

Journalist for Bay Life Newspaper

March 2022--Article 13 (2022-03-013)

Northwest Florida State College President Devin Stephenson is a visionary with purposeful determination. His caliber of speakers for the "President's Speaker Series" reflects his keen leadership and focus. I consider Dr. Stephenson to be a persuasive communicator in his own right.

Most people have heard the cliché that "You get what you pay for." Frequently, a true statement indeed, unless someone else foots the bill and invites you to come. This speaker series is FREE to the public, and Trey Gowdy packed the Mattie Kelly Arts Center with an eager, enthusiastic crowd. 

When someone mentions Trey Gowdy, people tend to have opinions of him at opposite ends of an ever-widening spectrum. They generally admire him greatly or vociferously criticize him. Unfortunately, this is the political climate of twenty-first-century America. No matter, Trey poured out his heart, humbly baring his soul to a spellbound audience.

Trey started his message with amusing quips and stories that ingratiated him to his audience, but his innate passion showed as things turned serious. The audience sat on the edge of their seats, wondering what was coming next. Trey revealed himself as someone not ready to yank America's life support from its socket. Instead, he believes that America needs to rediscover who we are, where we are going, and how to get where we need to be.

Granted, we are a politically divided country with red and blue sides more willing to shout things out than attempt to understand what drives the passions of the other side. Trey pointed out that every day carries the sense of it being like election day. So few people are forging relationships outside their sphere of fellow cheerleaders. He urged his audience to display an uncommon form of grace to bring us closer together.

Trey frequently transitioned to talk about his family and good friend and co-author, Senator Tim Scott. They developed a close bond as they spent many eating opportunities together at the Capitol Hill Club. Trey told the audience of Senator Scott's upbringing with his grandfather, who picked cotton and never learned to read. Yet, his grandfather believed in the power of knowledge and the magic of education, and he thought these things would make a difference in his grandson's future. His grandfather raised a grandson who became a United States Senator and author of a New York Times #1 Best Seller.

Trey mentioned meeting his wife through a church youth group and travelling and the importance of faith, sometimes shaken by his life experiences. His early career included prosecuting the worst criminals and how these interactions took their toll mentally, spiritually and physically. Like many politicians, Trey Gowdy left his hometown of Spartanburg, South Carolina, for our country's capital to make a difference. If you watch his famous social media sound bites, he comes across as a skilled prosecutor interrogating political adversaries. In person, he also comes across as genuine and caring.

After one hour of clearly articulating his thought-provoking speech, the last question pinpointed how this master of persuasion had moved many juries to agree with him beyond a reasonable doubt. He was asked why he was advocating compromise, although he never alluded to compromising with whom you disagree. Absent a court reporter to retrace his words; interrogator Gowdy kicked into overdrive to reiterate that he promoted dialogue—persuasion over argument. He encouraged sincere communication with empathy, not a win-at-any-costs methodology.

Trey never alluded to compromising one's beliefs. Instead, he pled for people to search for common ground. He encouraged practising the art of persuasion rather than using insults as a means of self-validation. His appeal: we all should make an effort to listen to the "other side." Insults make others determined not to give up any ground, and the mentality of crushing your opposition has eroded our society's fabric.

Trey encouraged talking responsibly and ending the bitter feuding and fussing with neither side desiring to listen and learn from the other. His point was to be fair-minded yet encourage people to think for themselves.

Upcoming Event: Dr. Stephenson has invited Charles Payne to be the next speaker in the President's Speaker Series on April 8, 2022. Come hear the Fox Business Network financial journalist and host of Fox's Making Money. Mark your calendars, and I'll see you there.

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A Pastor's Ponderings: (March 2022) Dr. Doug Stauffer, Journalist

   A Pastor's Ponderings: A Week in the Life of This Pastor

By Pastor Doug Stauffer

Faith Independent Baptist Church

Journalist for Bay Life Newspaper

March 2022--Article 12 (2022-03-012)

My dad was a towering (often intimidating) figure in my youth, standing six foot five. Add over twenty years in the military followed up by ten years as Captain of a police force, and "you will still have barely a glimpse of what I'm talking about." I inherited my mom's genes, making me a bit vertically challenged. Both of them taught me life's lessons that impacted me immeasurably.

My dad taught me many things, especially through his example, like working hard. He stressed that time wasted is time lost, never to be redeemed. As I matured, I realized the wisdom of this guidance and that some of the simplest choices produced the most profound outcomes. Forty years ago, I decided to follow Jesus, taking the admonitions of scripture seriously.

I have studied my Bible for four decades now, even writing over twenty books on the subject. Decisions have consequences—some bad, some good—and the profoundly impactful ones I treasure most. I learned that one of my best investments involved quality time poured into the lives of others.

I am blessed to experience so many great things because I actively engage in this life with robust passion and laser-focused purpose. There is always something to learn in life's arena, and the best growth comes through timely sowing, regular watering, and then reaping your investment.

As I listened to Aaron Hale speak on Thursday night (EODFudge.com), one poignant statement of his seemed to sum things up nicely, "Success without contribution is the biggest failure." I choose to wear many hats, all focused on making a difference. So, I thought I would share some snippets from a week's schedule in this pastor's life.

Sunday: Preached three times at the Church I pastor

Monday: Afternoon funeral followed by the honor of praying before a packed house at the Okaloosa County School Board

Tuesday: Morning meeting at the Police Department as the Niceville Police Department chaplain. That afternoon I hosted Lieutenant Governor Nuñez at the Niceville Senior Center with twenty prominent Okaloosa County Representatives. Commissioner Mel Ponder and the Lt. Governor and I then met for a more intimate talk at Black Rifle Coffee Company.

Wednesday: Evening church service followed by catching the last half of Northwest Florida State College Men's Basketball game. I am a professional photographer, so I voluntarily take pictures for their social media platform.

Thursday: Lunch at Rocky Bayou Christian School, followed by a tour of this wonderful institution. That evening I presided as President of the Okaloosa County Republican Club, and J.D. Peacock swore in the newly re-elected board. This formality was followed by our speaker, Aaron Hale, stealing the show. While serving in Afghanistan, an IED blew up, with Aaron ending up blind and later deaf. Yet, he recently completed his first 100-mile ultra-marathon and McKayla, and he manage their own Fudge company (www.EODFudge.com).

Friday: The morning started with the Second annual Commissioner's prayer breakfast hosted by Dr. Mike Mosley, with several hundred in attendance. It was inspiring and moving!

Saturday: We traveled to Pensacola to hear a Southern Gospel group in concert, followed up by finishing my sermons for the next day. Then comes another Sunday: lather, rinse and repeat with a new set of variables.

These are merely some highlights with one all-encompassing goal. "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16). To redeem time means to use it diligently. It is never too late to revolutionize your life with plenty of ways to engage in our community. Find out how to make a difference. The Bible says this could be you: "And of some have compassion, making a difference" (Jude 22). Busy people never have enough help; try volunteering. 

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Special Sports Feature (February 2022-2) Dr. Doug Stauffer, Journalist

Northwest Florida State College Hosts National Tournament

By Pastor Doug Stauffer

Faith Independent Baptist Church

Journalist for Bay Life Newspaper

February 2022--Article 11 (2022-02-11)

Northwest Florida State College sponsored another premiere event Christmas week (December 20-21), hosting the country’s #1 and #2 ranked NCAA wrestling teams. In fact, the competition included seven of the top eleven dual meet teams. The Journeymen Collegiate Wrestling Duals consisted of two pools at the Raider Arena with the following schools competing: #1 Iowa, #2 Penn State, #5 North Carolina State, #6 Arizona State, #9 Virginia Tech, #10 Missouri, #11 Cornell, and Lehigh, UNI, Hofstra, Central Michigan, Binghamton. Imagine the most competitive collegiate wrestling tournament in the nation in Niceville! Yes, that is what fans witnessed as they traveled in from states across the nation.

The red pool final match included Iowa squeaking out the win over North Carolina State (19-15), while Penn State dominated Arizona State (29-10) to win the blue pool. Penn State won seven of their ten bouts in their final match, pictured with the championship trophy. Both Iowa and Penn State left the Emerald Coast with three wins each to add to their undefeated seasons.

It is important to note that NWFSC also hosted the premier wrestling coach in the nation. Cael Sanderson—the coach from Penn State, an Olympic gold medalist. He is indisputably considered the all-time greatest NCAA wrestler as he went undefeated in his four years of college wrestling. He is the only wrestler in history with more than 100 wins to go undefeated in official NCAA Division I matches. Sports Illustrated named his college career as the second most impressive college sports feat among all sports, only topped by the feat of Jesse Owens’ four-world-record day in the span of 45 minutes.

As a former wrestler, I must affirm that the contests were competitive, thrilling and contentious, all in a spectacular environment. The Iowa Hawkeye’s four-point win over the Wolfpack was their narrowest victory of the year. The Penn State Nittany Lions looked impressive in their championship bout by dominating another top-tier opponent.

An added treat for the fans was the sponsorship by our own 1^st Special Operations Group SPECOPS from Hurlburt Field. Some of the 1^st SOW Airmen were onsite conducting competitions and allowing participants to wear their gear, including me. Now, that’s a sight to see!

The wing's core missions include close air support, precision aerospace firepower, specialized aerospace mobility, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations, and agile combat support. These brave soldiers displayed just such an aura as they interacted with young and old. The Emerald Coast has so much to offer so be sure to support these events as they come our way. You will only be disappointed if you miss out. 

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Special Sports Feature (February 2022) Dr. Doug Stauffer, Journalist

Prestigious Awards Sweep by Niceville High School

By Pastor Doug Stauffer

Faith Independent Baptist Church

Journalist for Bay Life Newspaper

February 2022--Article 10 (2022-02-010)

There were smiling faces and cheers everywhere when the Blue Blazer board members of the All Sports Association made their announcements at Niceville High School. The philanthropic association awarded several prestigious awards to three Niceville student-athletes and an assistant coach.

The Cornell-bound multi-sport athlete Noah Harman was awarded the Male Scholastic Award. He earned the award based on the merits of his 4.6 GPA and his contributions as captain of both the state championship track and field team and the football team. He also volunteers at the middle school and at his local church.

The Air Force Academy-bound Page Dolloff, another multi-sport athlete, was awarded the Female Scholastic Award. She earned the award based on the merits of her 4.74 GPA. She was the Daily News Female Swimmer of the Year and appeared in the final four for tennis. Page is also involved with several community and church volunteer programs.

The University of Florida-bound Senior Eric Trapp received the faith-based Taylor Haugen Foundation award. As he accepted the award, he quipped, “The Bible is my guidance in life.” He serves as the SGA president and carries a 4.3 GPA, and is involved in many volunteer programs through his church. The history of this award is both heartwarming and heartbreaking.   

Coach Adron Robinson was recognized as the Assistant Coach of the Year. He graduated from Niceville High School and returned to his alma mater contributing to the school in several capacities as a coach and mentor.

All Sports President Carter Zorn mentioned that award winners are chosen using blind résumés, ensuring zero bias in the outcomes. He further exclaimed that “We’ve never had this amount of awards in one place, so we’re really excited for the opportunity to present them to these amazing individuals.” Congratulations Niceville High School!

The Taylor Haugen Foundation Trophy deserves further exploration: Nominees are considered based on the character traits of the trophy’s namesake, Taylor Reid Haugen. “T” passed away on August, 30, 2008, of abdominal injuries suffered during a football game. The award represents this young man’s legacy, whose two passions were “JESUS AND FOOTBALL.” His motto was “Don’t Quit, Never Give Up.” 

Eric Trapp received this honor based upon Taylor’s similar balance of Academics, Athletics, Leadership, Community Service, and Christian Faith.

Taylor Haugen left an indelible mark on the community through his short life by living his faith and showing compassion for his friends, team, community, and church. The trophy is awarded in conjunction with the All Sports Association’s annual banquet on February 25, 2022, at the Destin/Ft. Walton Beach Convention Center from 5:00-10:00PM (www.allsportsassociation.org).

The hand sculptured bronze eagle stands over two feet tall, weighing 35-pounds. The eagle is taking flight on a ribbon of air as appropriately inspired by the last two verses of Isaiah chapter 40.

“Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:30-31).

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A Pastor's Ponderings: (February 2022) Dr. Doug Stauffer, Journalist

  A Pastor's Ponderings: Will You Be My Valentine?

By Pastor Doug Stauffer

Faith Independent Baptist Church

Journalist for Bay Life Newspaper

February 2022--Article 9 (2022-02-009)

Another Valentine's Day is just around the corner—February 14^th. This day serves as a reminder to express our love for one another. In the United States, about 190 million Valentine's Day cards are exchanged each year, not including the hundreds of millions of cards school children swap. Valentine's Day is a significant source of economic activity, with total expenditures equaling about $20 billion per year.

So, I thought I would help those who need a little push or some extra inspiration by offering some FREE quotes and quips. This might even help the post office to be a little less overwhelmed if you read them aloud to your special someone. First, the Bible: Husbands and wives are COMMANDED to love each other because love is a choice we make, not a base emotion experienced.

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it" (Ephesians 5:25). "The aged women … teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children" (Titus 2:3-4). The Bible expresses a love unequaled and unsurpassed, but sometimes people write some awesome things too. Here are ten that you can read aloud and not blush:

(1) "Thanks for being you and for being mine." 

(2) "For you see, each day I love you more, today more than yesterday and less than tomorrow." 

(3) "Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction." 

(4) "Love doesn't make the world go 'round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile." 

(5) "Grow old along with me; the best is yet to be." 

(6) "Love is a two-way street constantly under construction." 

(7) "On a scale of one to ten, I'd give you a nine—and I'm the one you need." 

(8) "If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus a day, so I never have to live without you." 

(9) "Being someone's first love may be great, but to be their last is beyond perfect." 

(10) "A successful relationship requires falling in love many times, always with the same person."

The book of Proverbs also says that a little humor is good for your heart. "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones" (Proverbs 17:22). So, see if these five make your heart smile:

(1) "I love being married. It's so great to find one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life." 

(2) "Falling for him would be like cliff diving. It would be either the most exhilarating thing that ever happened to me or the stupidest mistake I'd ever make." 

(3) "If you were a transformer, you'd be Optimus Fine."

(4) "Sometimes I wonder how you put up with me. Then I remember, oh I put up with you. So, we're even." 

(5) “What a lovely idea this Valentine's Day is: to give people we love the pictures of our internal organs like the heart.”

Phyllis Diller and Dr. Seuss wrote some things about love too. Guess who wrote which one of these. "Never go to bed mad. Stay up and fight." AND "You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams."

Remember that love is a choice, so no excuses, go find somebody to love. 

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Special Sports Feature (January 2022) Dr. Doug Stauffer, Journalist

The Emerald Coast Classic and the Doolittle Raiders

By Pastor Doug Stauffer

Faith Independent Baptist Church

Journalist for Bay Life Newspaper

January 2022--Article 8 (2022-01-008)

Knowing history is essential for several reasons, not the least because history serves as one of our best teachers. In The Life of Reason, the American philosopher George Santayana wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” The history I will share is not near so ominous as it refers to a basketball tournament at a historic location. 

Okaloosa-Walton Junior College opened in 1963 with the nickname “Raiders” in honor of Jimmy Doolittle and his crew. These brave pilots were responsible for the Tokyo Air Raid in retaliation for the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, with mission training beginning at a tiny airfield at Eglin Air Force Base. On April 18, 1942, sixteen B-25s, dubbed the “Doolittle’s Raiders,” took off from the deck of the U.S.S. Hornet enroute to bomb Japan. You might be wondering what this has to do with a basketball tournament. 

Everyone needs to experience the hidden gems located in North Niceville. I am referring to the college, the state-of-the-art Mattie Kelly Arts Center, and the top-notch basketball arena at Northwest Florida State College. This sleek, modern complex rivals some Division 1 programs in its atmosphere, with a seating capacity of just under 2,500. This facility has fielded some great teams, but there is more. The basketball facility houses an impressive World War II display located on the east side dedicated to former Air Force General Jimmy Doolittle. 

In 2008, the school’s name changed to Northwest Florida State College. Since 2014, the college has hosted the Emerald Coast Classic, a premier college basketball tournament televised nationally on the CBS Sports Network. It has become one of the country’s more popular college basketball tournaments. I urge all sports fans in the panhandle region to experience the Emerald Coast Classic during Thanksgiving week. This year’s Emerald Coast Classic started on Friday evening with two exciting overtime games in the semi-finals. 

LSU beat Penn State 68-63 in overtime to advance to the championship game. The environment was boisterous and exciting. I mean loud, loud, loud. The second game also went into overtime, with Wake Forest defeating Oregon State 80-77. 

On Saturday, Penn State handily defeated Oregon State 60-45, while LSU beat Wake Forest in the title game 75-61. It is hard to believe the caliber of basketball taking place in this arena during the Emerald Coast Classic, but this venue is a gem for more reasons than just this tournament. Mark your calendar for next Thanksgiving; you will be pleasantly surprised! I know I was. 

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A Pastor's Ponderings: (January 2022) Dr. Doug Stauffer, Journalist

   A Pastor's Ponderings: I Stand for Christ on My Knees

By Pastor Doug Stauffer

Faith Independent Baptist Church

Journalist for Bay Life Newspaper

January 2022--Article 7 (2022-01-007)

Have you ever wondered how to make a difference in such a big world? The Bible says, “And of some have compassion, making a difference” (Jude 22). Compassionate people are the difference makers. Additionally, God gives us the recipe for living peaceably by telling us to pray for all those in authority.

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

This country seems to be changing at lightning speed, so it behoves us to consider our humble beginnings. In just a few centuries, the United States evolved from a band of rebellious colonies with an untamed frontier into the world’s leading economic and military superpower. Many Americans believe that our unprecedented wealth and world dominance resulted from our ingenuity and drive.

Historically, American universities taught that our national prosperity was born from our system of government (a republic form of government instead of the communist or socialist systems). What did the United States possess to facilitate such a rapid transformation? The answer appeared during our nation’s infancy, and the 19^th century Frenchman Alexis de Tocqueville validated it.

In 1831, the French government commissioned historian Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859) to travel throughout America. His official assignment was to evaluate the prison system, but Tocqueville’s travels throughout the states gave him a desire to understand America's greatness. He was a critic of the political instability of Europe and wanted to document what he saw in America. His discoveries, as he reported to the French Senate, drew these conclusions:

“I went at your bidding, and passed along their thoroughfares of trade. I ascended their mountains and went down their valleys. I visited their manufactories, their commercial markets, and emporiums of trade. I entered their judicial courts and legislative halls. But I sought everywhere in vain for the secret of their success, until I entered the church. It was there, as I listened to the soul-equalizing and soul-elevating principles of the Gospel of Christ, as they fell from Sabbath to Sabbath upon the masses of the people, that I learned why America was great and free, and why France was a slave.”

Toucqueville wrote that the churches made the difference. Even our three-branch Republic form of government originated from God’s holy word and not man’s intellect. “For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us” (Isaiah 33:22).

Notice the three branch blueprint used by our founding fathers as delineated in Isaiah. God’s system of government included the judicial (judge), legislative (lawgiver) and executive (king) branches of government. Though this is the best form and the biblical form of government, it is not the sole reason for America’s greatness. When the United States of America honored God and His word above all else, we experienced much less turmoil. Supreme Court rulings in the early 1960s squashed the prayers of millions of school children that once traveled up to the throne of grace every school day. So, could you do one thing? 

I was recently invited to the Governor’s mansion and had the distinct pleasure to meet with the Governor and his wife. In the most non-partisan way I can, I ask you to pray for Florida’s First Lady, Casey DeSantis, as she undergoes cancer treatments. I told her we would be praying for her; won’t you join me? 

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