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Tuesday, November 23, 2021

It was a Monday…


 Monday… after an incredibly busy weekend including preaching a funeral in Perry, Oklahoma, preaching a funeral in McPherson, Kansas, and 3 nights of preaching Revival Services in Wichita, I was headed to NW Kansas, in the wee hours of the morning, to archery deer hunt on some WIHA (walk in hunting area) land I had set a tree-stand up on, and then was going to go check on some tree stands I had set up on a private land area in preparation for our Ministry Outdoor Adventures Foundation annual whitetail deer hunt next week.

As I was making my way North and West, and almost to my destination, around 5:30am I… hit a deer.  And, after pulling over, getting out and assessing the damage, I called my wife.  She was thrilled to both talk with me so early in the AM, and to hear the good news about my most recent deer collision.  After a jovial, pre-dawn, conversation with my better half, I determined my truck was still driveable, marked my location, took a picture of the “dying” deer, and then got back in my truck and continued down the road to hopefully be able to find a rutting buck I could shoot with an arrow.  

Upon arrival at my destination, I speedily gathered my gear, and quickly headed into the woods.  Since this was a Walk In Hunting Area, my “walk-in” hike was a little over half a mile.  About 3/4ths of the way in I think I stepped on a rock and… “Wham!”  It kinda felt like something “exploded” under and inside of my foot and I’m almost certain I heard it as well as felt it.  I thought… “What the heck was that?!?”  But, since I was already 3/4ths of the way in, and since I had come to hunt… on I now more slowly went, hobbling stealthily along the rest of the way to my tree.

Climbing a tree with whatever had just happened to my foot was… fun, probably the most memorable tree climb I’ve ever had.  And, by the time I got up, I was WIDE Awake!  Then… as I pulled my bow up with my “pull-up” chord, my bow quiver noisily came off and fell to the ground.  Now I would get to climb down the tree, and then back up again.  So fun….  Why was I here?!? 

Then… after seeing Nothing all AM, at about 10:30, I hear “Bang, Bang…. Bang, Bang, Bang!”  And, there came a group of quail hunters and their dogs.  Though they never saw me, I watched as they worked back and forth, following their dogs, and drawing nearer and nearer to my location.  Once they got to about the 100yds away point, I decided it was time to give up on my archery hunting for the day.  At least I could now go and retrieve the deer who had ended his life on the front of my truck…

After climbing down the tree, and hobbling out of the woods, I headed to the local Sheriff’s office to get a “salvage tag” for my deer…. Yeah, you know where this is going don’t you?

Upon arrival at the marked location of my truck-struck deer, it was… gone. 😕.

So, Monday wasn’t my best hunting day ever, but I keep telling myself it could have been worse… I think.

The Doc told me this AM, after an exam and x-rays, that though I didn’t break anything, he thinks it is most likely a Peroneal Tendon tear/rupture.  And, that my 2021 deer season (the hiking / walking / tree climbing part of it) is probably over…

Kinda bummed, but choosing to be thankful, anyway!  God is good, even when circumstances stink!

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”        - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18


Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Canceled By Big Tech II

Unbelievable...  And yet, this is real folks.  And, it can happen to you.  Here’s my story.  It’s long, but it’s as true as I can tell it.  Read it if you will.


Late Friday afternoon (8/13) I found out my Ministry Outdoor Adventures PayPal account had been restricted.  MOA is a legal, legitimate, faith based, 501c3, non-profit organization, recognized by both the State of Kansas and the Federal Government.  As it’s founder and CEO, I make sure all of the bills are paid, and all of my paperwork is up to date, so I was a little baffled as to what might be going on.  Then, within just a few moments, I also discovered that my Watchman Evangelism Ministries (also a legal, legitimate, faith based, 501c3, non profit organization, recognized by both the State of Kansas and the Federal Government, with all of it’s bills paid, and paperwork up to date) PayPal account had also been restricted.  Hmmmm….  


I was in a situation in which I literally had donors who wanted to donate through PayPal (as they had for years in the past) who were now, for some reason unbeknownst to me, not able to do so.  Why?  And, why had my accounts been restricted? 


If you saw my post from 8/13/21 you saw the images of my “chat/instant messaging” with “customer support.”  If not, scroll down on my timeline and check it out.  Mind numbing…  And totally unhelpful.  In that post I also included a video of me telling my story and explaining the situation.  Quite frankly, at the time, I was pretty ticked.  (I still am.)


But, as the weekend went by I began to think to myself, “Well, maybe I over-reacted.”  “Maybe they (PayPal) just had a glitch in their system.”  “Maybe I can clear all of this up with a phone call to PayPal customer service on Monday.”  I actually began to feel bad for my “over-reaction.”  Ahhhh, but then Monday came along and things became even clearer.


On Monday AM, I began a journey of trying to get through to their equivalent of customer service.  At first I gave up and resorted back to instant message “chatting.”  (See screenshots of Monday’s conversation below.)  Finally, after realizing I was getting nowhere, I gave that up, and once again tried calling.  After again being placed on hold I finally opted for their “call back” feature, and waited… I was eventually called back.  That’s when the real insanity began, and my eyes were truly opened.


I was told that my account was not just restricted, it had been permanently and irreparably restricted.  And, that there was no way for me to work things out because I was in violation of their terms of use policy.  I tried to inquire as to how I was in violation… after some more time on hold, I was then told it was due to the fact that Ministry Outdoor Adventures promotes the sale and use of firearms, ammunition and weapons.  I tried to explain that MOA was a 501c3 and that my ministry, my non-profit, my business, takes persons in ministry on hunting trips in which firearms are used… and, that we have used perfectly legal knife and gun raffles as a means of raising support for the ministries that we do…  But… there was no explanation I could provide, describe, or try to enunciate clearly and slowly enough, that was going to take me anywhere I needed to go with the customer service agent I was on the phone with.  I was talking to a person with a bluetooth headset on, residing in a cubicle, who viewed me as a blinking light on her screen, an unpleasant problem she had to deal with, and was talking with me from what I suspect was actually some faraway place outside of the US.  And, bless her heart, she obviously had no “button” on her touchscreen that could provide me either the real answers I needed or a conversation with a human being to whom I could reason with about my situation.  But, I kept trying.


As the conversation continued… I discovered that not only had MOA been permanently restricted for the above mentioned reason, but so had my Watchman Evangelism Ministries PayPal account been permanently restricted.  Really?  Again, I tried to explain that though I was the Founder and CEO, Watchman Evangelism was a separate 501c3, with a different mission, a different EIN, and a different advisory board…  It didn’t matter.  In their view it too was in violation of their “Acceptable Use Policy.”  Hmmmm…


I said “How did all of this happen?  I’ve been a faithful customer since I began my ministries in 2015 (she insisted it was 2017)…”  Whatever.  I said “Okay, can you explain to me what happened here?”  She said, “We received a report and our Back Office Team determined you were in terminal violation of our Acceptable Use Policy.”  I said, “I was reported?  By whom?  And, what is a ‘Back Office Team?’”  She said again, “It was determined that you were in violation…”.  I said, “So, have your policies recently changed?”  She said “Sir, you can view our Acceptable Use Policy at… (you know the drill here).”  So, I verbally reiterated what you see posted in the screenshots of my chat with customer service.  And, then I said, “Look, I understand that you are a person who is just trying to do your job.  But please understand the company you work for is discriminating against me, treating me unfairly, and is in violation of my constitutional rights, they have deprived me of two months worth of support and donations, and they are literally preventing me from engaging in lawful, legal, legitimate business and ministry.”  With that said, I then said “I’m done.  Thank you for your help.”


That happened Monday morning.  Now, since this all came to my attention last Friday, I began to do some more digging through as many old emails from PayPal as I could find.  There were a myriad of them.  Truly!  And, among them were a large number of bogus PayPal “phishing” and “scam” emails.  A bunch!  But, I did however, also find several legitimate and regularly occurring ones from PayPal that would say things like “We’re making some changes to our legal agreements that will apply to you.  There’s no action needed from you today.  But if…”  And, honestly, I would get to that point and just move on, because at first glance, everything seemed okay.  And why should I worry… if I’m doing nothing wrong or different?  Am I the only one who does that?  


But, then, finally, I found two more emails, one to Watchman and one to MOA.  (See posted screenshots.).  And, though I’m not certain, I think I do actually remembered seeing them at the time, but I just assumed they were also bogus “scam” or “phishing” emails.  Because… why would all of a sudden things change with PayPal?  And, how could it be true that I could no longer do business with PayPal?  That’s crazy!  Surely PayPal would contact me personally if this were legitimate…  Surely I’d get a phone call if I were in violation of something…  surely I’d get a certified letter which is a common business practice when legal situations are unfolding… Or, surely if something were going on, a PayPal policy person or Customer Service Agent would be in touch with me via telephone if something were wrong…  Nope.  What I got, was one email for each 501c3.  And then, unbeknownst to me, the PayPal “lights went out” for both MOA and Watchman Evangelism.  But, the “business as usual” emails from PayPal, like the ones mentioned above, continued.  (I even got one today, as if nothing were wrong).  And, all the while, I had no idea I had been cut off.  Permanently.  Without a chance at restoration.  Without recourse.  


Looking back, I did notice though… that there weren’t any PayPal donations coming in.   For a couple of months actually.  Hmmmm…  But, it was Summer, and gas prices were up, inflation was on the rise, a lot of people were still out of work, the economy was tanking…  I just explained away the situation to myself, and filled in the blanks of my perceptions.  But, then I mailed out my “2021 MOA Fall Elk Hunt Ministry Retreat Support Letters.”  (As stated in my previous post, this is our biggest group ever, 17 ministry participants, working with 4 different outfitters, in 4 different locations in Colorado.  No small financial undertaking.) And, that’s what led to the text I got from a confused donor who had received a letter from me and and who wanted to donate, but couldn’t, because PayPal wasn’t working…  And, that’s how I got here.


Included in this lengthy post are screenshots of PayPal’s “Acceptable Use Policy” which was apparently most recently “Updated May 6, 2021”.  I may be wrong, but I don’t recall seeing the specific changes I saw in the policy this time, the last time I had looked at it.  But, it starts off with this phrase: 


“You may not use the PayPal service for activities that: 


1) Violate any law, statute, ordinance or regulation.   

2) Relate to transactions involving…”  


…and then the policy goes into this very long list of “Prohibited Activities” which are clearly and blatantly illegal activities.  It’s a “Captain Obvious” list, until… it comes to the end.  If you look closely at the highlighted text I provided in the screenshot, buried at the bottom of their long list of multiple illegal and criminal acts and actions, there is also listed (literally at the very bottom) the following: 


“… (j) ammunition, firearms, or certain firearm parts or accessories, or (k) certain weapons or knives regulated under applicable law.”   


Firearms aren’t illegal things.  Are they?  Ammunition isn’t an illegal thing.  Is it?  Firearm parts aren’t illegal things?  Are they?  Knives aren’t illegal things.  Are they?  Why are they placed at the bottom of a list of clearly unlawful and illegal activities?  Ammunition, firearms, firearm parts and knives are law abiding citizen things.  I mean, I personally carry a knife everywhere, and I carry a handgun, almost everywhere.  I’m a law abiding citizen.  Why is something that is Constitutionally legal, everywhere in the US, included on their “bad list?”  As stated before, my ministry, Ministry Outdoor Adventures, takes people in ministry on hunting retreats and also regularly engages in activities in which safe and lawful firearm ownership and use are both promoted and encouraged.  Is that in some way illegal?  Where?  How?  And, as stated above, MOA also generates funding for its ministries and activities through legitimate and legal knife and firearm raffles, for charitable purposes.  Is this illegal?  As far as I know, it is completely legal, and everything associated with these raffles are handled according to all State and FFL rules and regulations.  What’s PayPal’s problem?


I don’t know about you, but it sure seems to me that PayPal’s “Acceptable Use Policy” is discriminatory towards me and people, organizations and businesses like mine.  Especially in light of the fact that they threw their cancelation blanket not only over MOA but also over Watchman Evangelism.  That definitely feels discriminatory to me.  That feels like “Conservative Profiling.”  Why are they able to violate my personal, Constitutional Rights with their own leftist, anti-firearm, policies and politics?  Why are their politics able to arbitrarily hinder my legitimate, legal ministry actions and activities?

Why do I, as a law abiding citizen, have to pay the price for shifts and changes in corporate policy that place me in violation of peremptory policies that have distanced themselves from the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the foundational laws of the land?  In this age of insanity, when right has become wrong, and wrong has become right, I certainly cannot be the only conservative who believes they are being discriminated against in this or in similar ways.


Now, here’s the really scary thing… PayPal has scads of lawyers.  Scads!  Will I now be sued for simply stating my case?  Is it wrong to speak up when you are wronged?  Is it wrong to point out wrongdoing?  


I’m nobody.  Nobody.  I’m just a guy who works hard everyday and has worked hard for years to build what I have and to get where I am.  I’m a Christian, a husband, a father, a pastor, a theological and political conservative, an entrepreneur, and in 2015 I started and now run, two non-profit organizations that, in my opinion, do a lot of good.  A lot of good!  Maybe as you read this, you realize you’re a hard working “nobody” too.  Personally speaking, just between you and me, I don’t make a lot of money, and maybe you don’t either.  But, I sure do like the work that I do.  And, I consider it an honor to be able to get up and do what I do every day.  


Here’s the deal my friends.  These huge tech companies… they may make billions and billions of dollars, but the reality is, we are their customers.  Remember customers?  Remember customer service?  Remember back when the customer was always right?  When companies changed policy to meet the needs of their customers and trained their employees and service personnel to do the same thing?  These big tech companies have gotten so big, they don’t care about customers anymore.  They can throw around whatever leftist, un-American, un-Constitutional policy they want whenever they want and nobody says a word.  They have so much money and power they can squash a “nobody” like me (and you) at will.  People like you and me, we are nothing to them.  Personally, I think that needs to change.  Now.  And, I believe our Country, our United States of America, is currently in the condition it is in because far too many of us “nobody’s” have done… nothing… for far, far too long.  Well, I’m done with that.  Aren’t you?  Somebody has to stand up.  I’ve decided it’s going to be me.  And, I’ve decided it’s going to be now.  I don’t care what they do to me.  


Will you join me?  Here’s how.


First, if you will, I suggest a call to PayPal.  Let them know you don’t appreciate their anti-second amendment policies.  And, their profiling and discriminatory actions against conservative, faith based businesses and organizations. (844)368-6632


Second, while you have them on the phone, let them know that they have violated your personal ethical businesses policy and that you are no longer going to do business with them.  Then, if you have a PayPal account cancel it.


Third, let others know about your action and why.  And, encourage them to do the same.


Fourth, call Congress.  Here’s the number for the Congressional Switchboard (202)224-3121.  Let your elected Representatives and Senators know that you are against the leftist, woke, anti-Constitutional, anti-Conservative, anti-Faith, anti-Free Speech, anti-Free market, anti-American corporate policies and practices of big-tech, and that you expect to see them (as an elected representative) fight for your rights, and against big-tech, both as one of their constituents and as an American Citizen.


Will it make a difference?  Believe me, if enough “nobody’s” stand up, and put leftist, “woke” big tech, and leftist “woke” corporate America on notice, someone will notice, and things can and will begin to change.


But, you’ve got to take action.  If you just sit there… what happened to me, can and will, eventually, happen to you.  And, by then, it literally may be too late.


Wake up America!  Get up!  Take action!



Canceled By Big Tech Part I

Well friends, I’m posting this video because “big tech” is apparently in the process of “canceling” me and my ministries.  And, if it can happen to me, it can happen to you.


I am the founder and CEO of two Non Profit 501c3 organizations.  One is called Watchman Evangelism Ministries (@WatchmanEvangelism) and the other one is called Ministry Outdoor Adventures (@MOAFoundation).  It is through these two ministries that I both fulfill my calling and provide for my family.


If you saw my post from 8/11/21 you know that my FB account has been placed in “warning” status due to my so called “violations of their community standards.”  I urge you to search my personal timeline and my ministry timelines to see exactly how I have “violated” their community standards.


TODAY (just a few moments ago) I received a text from one of my MOA Supporters saying that PayPal was not allowing him to contribute.  So… I checked it out.  He was right.  (See the pictures posted in this post.). Apparently, without warning, because my ministry “violates their community standards” they can shut me down at will.


This is particularly damaging to me and the work that I do because I am currently in the middle of fundraising for our MOA Fall Elk Adventures (we have 17 total participants going with 4 different outfitters.).  If you know anything about elk hunting, this is a considerable financial undertaking.  And, I haven’t been able to post my usual fundraising posts on FB due to their warning me about posts having to do with fire-arms and weapons.  And, now PayPal has shut me down…


(Please take the time to watch this video and look closely at the pictures I’ve posted with it.)


As Non-Profit, Faith-Based Organizations, both of my ministries rely on charitable contributions from persons, groups, congregations and organizations in order to function.  And, PayPal has (up until now) been a significant means for people to make donations in support of the work that I do and the ministries I provide.  Similarly, Facebook has been the platform which has (up until recently) allowed me to network and make connections that help me communicate with individuals, groups, congregations and communities.  I’ve even preached and taught internationally through FB.  But… that is, apparently, all about to change.  And, as stated above, it has already changed with PayPal.


My encouragement to you is… 


1. Join me in praying for America!  Every day at 3:16 central time I pray for a New Great Awakening to sweep our Nation.

2. Speak Up!  Exercise Free Speech!  Stand up for your Faith.  Stand up for yourself.  Speak the truth in love.  Make Noise.  Make calls.  Write letters.  (Not for me, for you!  For our Nation.  Because, as stated above, if this can happen to me, it can happen to you, to your church, to your faith based organization, to anyone.).  America, we need desperately to be Awakened not “woke.”

3. Run for office.  Any open office you hear of.  Become the “elected” voice of Faith, Stability and Sanity in a world that is so obviously and desperately upside down.  (Yes, I’m actually strongly considering it myself.)


If after reading this post, or after watching this video you would like to give in support of either Watchman Evangelism Ministries or Ministry Outdoor Adventures, you can still do so by sending a check.  Because these ministries are legitimate 501c3’s, your contributions are tax deductible.


Ministry Outdoor Adventures

c/o Pastor Rob Schmutz

PO Box 71

Haven, KS. 67543


Or 


Watchman Evangelism Ministries

c/o Pastor Rob Schmutz

PO Box 71

Haven, KS. 67543


Bless you!


Keep Your Eyes On Jesus!

Hebrews 12:2




Monday, April 12, 2021

To all of my Friends, Brothers, Sisters, Colleagues and Co-laborers in ministry

To all of my Friends, Brothers, Sisters, Colleagues and Co-laborers in ministry: 

I love you all!  And, I hope and pray that what I’m writing here does not offend any of you who may read this.  However, if you read this, as you read this, I want to both challenge you and caution you.  

I want to caution you today about pining, longing and hoping for a return to how things were in ministry pre-2020.  Do not rely on packaged programs designed to take you back there.  You cannot go back in time.  Those days were not really better, and they are not coming back.  Resist the temptation to embrace the pallor of the narrative of the “new normal” of pandemic affliction.  Instead, choose to both believe and be awakened in your heart, as a ministry leader, to the reality that better days of new ministry opportunities (better than you can even begin to imagine) are now before you.

Friends, We have been given a tremendous opportunity to overhaul our approach to Ministry and Mission.  Forget the status quo.  We are in the beginning stages of a New Great Awakening of Faith in our Nation.  And, in light of all that we went through in 2020, and in the face of whatever 2021 and the years that the rest of this decade may hold in store, we now have an opportunity to define for ourselves the reality of the Church’s New Normal.  Do not allow your New Normal of Mission and Ministry to be Canceled.  Refuse to be passive, cautious and tentative.  Instead, choose to be bold, persistent, and tenacious.  As Pastors, Ministry Leaders, Ministry Staff, Church Boards and Church Leaders we must be...

Courageous

Contagious

Committed

Consistent

Cohesive

& Creative


We must personally fuel our faith by being...

In the WORD (Joshua 1:7-8)

In PRAYER (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

In FELLOWSHIP (Hebrews 10:25)

In The SPIRIT (Galatians 5:16) &

In MINISTRY (Matthew 28:18-20)

It’s so simple really, evangelism... all we have to do is offer what we’ve been given.  It’s good news, this Jesus stuff!  Jesus saves!  People need Jesus.  If we will relationally share Him, they will rationally want Him.  No, not all will, but many, many, many more than you can even begin to imagine.  This torn world is waiting to hear about what Jesus can do.  Will you share what He’s done for you?

I encourage you to begin conversationally and relationally experimenting with phrases like...

- “How’s life?”

- “Jesus loves you.”

- “You know, Jesus really can change everything.”

- “Would it be okay if I prayed for you?”

- “How can I pray for you?”

- “Have you ever prayed?”

- “Have you ever prayed and asked Jesus into your life?”

- “Would you like to pray and ask Jesus into your life now?”

If you will... if we will... if I will... simply intentionally share what we’ve been given... in and through whatever new challenges arise in our local mission context, our community, our County, our State, our Country and our World... we will find that the good news about Jesus (the gospel) “...is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes...” (Romans 1:16).  But, we must be determined to maintain our focus on Jesus, and willing to walk in obedience to the Great Commission.  And, in the ministries we have been entrusted with by God, to relentlessly and uncompromisingly Pursue, Adapt, Improvise and Overcome! 

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which is lost.”   Luke 19:10

“...and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”    Matthew 16:18

“And they overcame him (the enemy) by the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and because they did not love their life even when faced with death.”     Revelation 12:11

Keep on keepin’ on in Jesus, my friends, because the Best really IS yet to come!

Pastor Rob Schmutz

Thursday, March 25, 2021

Men!

Men, in order to live and fight effectively in this world in which we live, we must learn to stand with, and come alongside, other men.  Below is a list of accountability questions for men who are interested in forming accountability "Fire Teams."  Also included below is a plan of action for laying a foundation for building a men's ministry ("Band of Brothers") in your neighborhood, community, workplace or local church.  Also below, is a list of the "Rules of Engagement" for men who desire to be Spiritually "combat effective" in both their life and in the world today.

Everywhere I go I see an Awakening Occurring in the hearts of men!  Are you ready to be a part of it? 

Ephesians 5:14-18

————————————

 "Fire Team" Accountability Questions for Men

1)- Have you daily spent time in the Word and in Prayer (Daily Devotions)? 

2)- Have you spent quality and quantity (phone-less) time with, and given priority to, your wife and family?

3)- Have you worked hard and been a faithful employee and a consistent witness in the workplace?

4)- Have you taken care of your personal self by getting adequate sleep, eating right, exercising, and experiencing a sabbath this past week?

5)- Have all of your financial dealings been filled with integrity?

6)- Have you viewed, read or gone to websites or social media sites that contain sexually explicit material / pornography?

7)- Have you been with a woman in the past week in a way that could be viewed as questionable or compromising?

8)- Has your language and attitude been positive and a reflection of God's Glory?
 
9)- Have you just lied to me?

————————————

"Fire Team" Function & 4-Stage Plan of Action for building a "Band of Brothers" and an effective Men's Ministry.

1) Weekly Fellowship (Meet up once a week with your fire team.)
2) Monthly Ministry Ops (Meet out monthly with your Fire Team and invite friends / Wings Night, Guys Movie Night, Etc.)
3) Quarterly Outreach Ops (Plan a Clayshoot, Local Fishing Trip, 3-D Archery shoot, Etc. for Fire Team and intentional invitations to friends.)
4) Annual Experience/Adventure Ops (This is a larger event and would be best to plan out of State / Hog Hunt, Hiking Trip, Fishing Trip, Etc.)

————————————

"Rules of Engagement" for Living out God's Purpose and Plan for your Life as men.  

"Combat Effective" Men of God Need to Be:
- In The Word (Joshua 1:7-8)
- In Prayer (1Thessalonians 5:17)
- In Fellowship (Hebrews 10:25)
- In The Spirit (Galatians 5:16)
- In Ministry (Matthew 28:18-29)

Proverbs 27:17, Psalm 144:1, Ephesians 6:10-17

Keep your eyes focused on Jesus!

Pastor Rob Schmutz
Founder / CEO
Ministry Outdoor Adventures
Hebrews 12:2


Twitter: @MOAFoundation

Sent from my iPhone