When I arrived for my first ever preaching position in the Spring of 1996 with the Mt Olive Church of Christ in Live Oak, Florida, I went to visit the local weekly newspaper, The Suwannee Democrat, to see what was available for space. I immediately developed a relationship with the editor (Sue Lamb) and for almost two years had an exclusive column entitled, The Shield and the Sword. I was given complete freedom to write what I wanted; mainly because no one else in town would step up and commit to a weekly deadline. That time proved to be very rewarding for me and the church; it even stimulated a debate (article that caused the debate is inside). While the subject matter for the articles is timeless they do reflect my growth as a minister over those two years; for that I will forever be grateful to all who helped me along the way.