When the founders of our country envisioned America, they envisioned a land of freedom. But somewhere down the road we have turned “land of freedom” into the “land of free stuff”.
For example, last night during the Democratic Presidential Debate you heard things offered such as:

-Free Healthcare

-Free Tuition

-Free Childcare

-Free Subsidies

-The list of free stuff offered goes on and on.

But will the American people compromise their personal freedoms for personal free stuff?
If you look up the word freedom in the dictionary it says, “the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.”

The truth is freedom is never free. It has always come with a cost. Or in this case, an undetermined, but financially strapping cost. The candidates know that if they promise enough free stuff it will get the American people to surrender their power. How? Well someone has to pay for all the free things, and they will tell you the government is paying for it.
However, we must firmly recognize that there is no such thing as government funded, without it first being taxpayer funded. The democracy of government is both powerless financially and structurally without the voice and the wallet of the taxpayer. By accepting the offers of these free things we are giving the government control. I doubt our founders wanted our country to be known as the land of free stuff, but with so many candidates offering so much, the questions at large are:

Will we trade our freedom for free stuff? Will we give up our power for possessions? Will we say no to the democratic socialists and say our freedoms are not for sale? Answer these questions wisely, because the future of America’s republic rests on our response. #FreeStuffForFreedom #Debate

Dear Mike Bloomberg,

I am aggravated. Aggravated with your recent comments. The ones dealing with the first two letters of that very word: Ag. You recently said that it would not take much gray matter to be a farmer. As I’m sure you know, your comments created an uproar of reactions from across the country and thus, a significant reason why I am addressing you.

Agriculture is the backbone of this country. Without the food and fiber industry, we could not function. Imagine going to a restaurant, but there is no food to order. Imagine going to the clothing store, only to find there are no clothes available. Imagine all the items that are considered “Ag” products and what our country would look like. You might think this a hyperbolic exercise, but it reveals a daunting truth: without the sweat of the farmer, without the industry of agriculture, without the toil of the soil, our country would in fact be hungry, naked, and afraid because of the consequences of a vanishing Ag industry. You might think that it takes less gray matter in the farming profession, but nothing could be further from the truth. Truly, the cost of innovation is the yielding of change and the effort to think more critically, which I would caution you to do before making these comments.

However, I do not hold you in total responsibility of your comments. Actually, it served as an epiphany for me. Your comments cracked into an underlying problem that we have today. And that problem is: the lack of Ag Literacy. The ugly truth is many folks don’t understand agriculture, where their food comes from, and fail to see the gigantic value of the industry as a whole. The issue is even bigger than you and your campaign sir.

If anything your comments have motivated me as they should motivate every agriculturalist in America. I’m even more aggravated at this big picture problem. We should be telling the story of agriculture more. We should be engaging others in the process of agriculture more. We should be educating the public about the high cost of forgetting this formidable industry more. And we should be communicating the reasons why being in agriculture is an intelligent profession. Because feeding the world with less land mass year after year does require innovative thinking.

Now, Mayor Bloomberg, I admit you may never read this post, but I sure hope it causes people to get Aggressive in their messaging. Emphasis on Ag. Not in violence or hatred, but aggressive in boldness of sharing the story of agriculture and why it is so important. Because one day, there will be another presidential election, and in that year I hope that we won’t have a candidate who writes off farmers, but instead applauds farmers and believes in the blooming industry of agriculture. The future is in all of our hands. May we get aggravated, agitated, and aggressive in telling the world about what Ag is all about.

Tell The Story,

Brandon, An Ag Enthusiast

#Agriculture #FightingForTheFuture #MikeBloomberg

As a speaker who both speaks and preaches you come to the realization that much of the work you do is like a farmer. You are constantly planting seeds hoping they will take root in people’s lives and produce for the Kingdom. You don’t always see people respond immediately to a message, altar call, or testimonial. We live in a world that is all about instant results, however, I’m a firm believer that God is always working on hearts even if we don’t see it in the moment. Many people might be surprised by this next statement, but the two biggest battles of depression I fight is normally right before I speak and then directly after I speak. The enemy always wants you to be discouraged at what may look like a dismal crop in the present, but last I checked faith is not just for the present crop; it’s for the future of the crop as well. No matter how many people come forward or step up to respond we must remember that FRUIT IS FRUIT and that every life matters no matter how big the invitation might be. Whether it is 100 or 1, God is at work. As believers we must never give up on the crop God is growing in the moment and throughout eternity.

I was reminded of this lesson as I preached at the Oklahoma Junior Swine Association Show in Cushing. I saw God work in an incredible way! We saw 4 people invite Jesus Christ into the heart as their personal Lord and Savior!! Praise God for His Hand at work in 2020! One of the parents even said, “Sir, I got up this morning praying that God would save at least one person today.” And Jesus answered the prayer!

After the service was over, I was heading out to my car, when I was stopped by a high school student at the barn door. She recognized me and said, “Brandon, thank you for preaching today. I’ve actually heard you before. You preached at one of my first pig shows when I was in 4-H.”

At this point my heart was racing as I couldn’t recall seeing this student before. She then said, “It was back in like 2014 and you asked us to come to the show ring if we wanted to ask Jesus into our hearts.”

Then I remembered that message and doing that particular altar call. I also remembered nobody came forward. “Oh yes, I remember that service.” I said. The Devil was already at work in my mind as he filled me with negative thoughts about what had happened.

Then she replied, “Well, I never told you this, but that day, I heard your sermon and accepted Jesus into my heart. And I’ve never been the same person since! I got baptized, go to church, and love God!”

I was caught off guard and laughed with joy and said, “God is so good. Thanks for sharing this with me.”

With tears in my eyes, I got back in my car and headed to our church home for service. I drove back praising God for the testimony. It’s so easy to give up on the crop when we don’t see it bloom according to our own timing.

God will bring everything into fruition, we just have to be obedient and keep planting the seeds. Where the Spirit is leading, the Spirit is yielding. We just have to have the faith to believe in what God is producing for the Kingdom. Never give up on God’s crop, know that the fields are white, the soil is good, and the harvest will come; even if the harvest consists of only one. Because One always matters. #DontGiveUpOnGodsCrop #Salvation #Testimony #GodIsGood

For many, the week of Thanksgiving is one of the most dreaded weeks of the year, especially for those in the retail industry. Black Friday has become known as the craziest day for shopping affecting both customers and employees. Although it is one of if not the most intense shopping day of the year, I believe it can also hold significant opportunities for us to show others about Jesus. That’s why I believe this Black Friday we need to be like Wheeless, Oklahoma.

“Wheeless, Oklahoma. Where on earth is that?” You might ask. If you don’t know where that is, it’s actually one of the furthest western communities in the Oklahoma Panhandle. There isn’t much there at all. In fact, my wife and I drove through there this past summer on a road trip to Black Mesa. Our GPS was taking us a different way home and from a distance you could see a small white church building in the horizon and that was it.

As we arrived to town the building we could see from a distance happened to be the old Wheeless Baptist Church. It was the very first thing we saw as we came to town. It stood out amongst the town. Now, you might be sitting there thinking, “What does this small little church in the Panhandle have to do with Black Friday?”

Well, it’s quite simple actually. When people see me, I want them to see a church. A church that stands out for God. A church that can be seen from a distance as well as up close. A church that tries to honor God even though it often fails. A church that desperately desires God. I fail so often at this and am praying for God’s strength.

As followers of Christ we are the hands and feet of Christ and how we represent Him on this earth matters. WE ARE THE CHURCH. This Black Friday we will cross paths with lots of people. Who will they see when they cross paths with you? Will they see you or will they see Jesus? Will they see a greedy customer or a gracious Christ Follower? Will we live to honor God in the shopping aisle just as much as we aim to honor him in the church pew on Sunday morning?

If you haven’t ever been to the Oklahoma Panhandle I highly recommend the trip as it is a fascinating place. But even if you never make it out, know that we as followers of Christ have something in common with the small town of Wheeless, Oklahoma. And that is the need for us to know Christ and to make Him fully known.

When people see you, what is the first thing they think of? My prayer is that others will see Christ. We do that by displaying Christlike behavior, reactions, words, and actions to everyone. None of us are perfect, but this Black Friday we can point others to our perfect God. So this week, let’s be like Wheeless, Oklahoma, and most of all, let us be like Jesus to all. #Godhelpme #BlackFriday #Thanksgiving #Wheeless #Panhandle #Oklahoma

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place.” -2 Corinthians 2:14 (CSB)

I remember it like it was yesterday, it had been a long week of interviews as 43 of us National Officer Candidates were in Louisville, Kentucky at the National FFA Convention each hoping to be announced as a member of the next National FFA Officer Team. After weeks of preparing, training, and working with mentors, the time had begun and it was time to represent the best we could highlighting the many memories in the corduroy jacket. The week had been a whirlwind and it was all coming down to the final session where the new team would be announced. Everyone in the convention center was on edge as the nominating committee chair steps up to make the breaking news. “Your New National Officer Team members are…..”

Then after the most intense moments of my life, I realized that my name….. wasn’t called. I wasn’t on the team and thus, the end of my time in FFA. I remember walking back to my hotel room and unzipping my jacket for the final time. I hung it up, never to wear it again. As I began to pack everything up, I could not help but reflect on the many positive memories I had in the organization and how it made me a better leader and team player. The positive difference my Ag Teacher made in my life and the many friendships I made throughout the way could not be more apparent to me. I realized that through my involvement in FFA, that the blue corduroy doesn’t change colors, but instead it changes lives. It certainly did for this FFA Has-Been and it will change yours too, if you let it!

This week I’ve been thinking of everyone traveling to the 92nd National FFA Convention. One thing is for certain: you don’t have to be in Indianapolis to be aware of the achievements of FFA members and Ag-Ed Instructors that will take place this week. Congrats to all those who are participating in and are about to experience the National FFA Convention. Your time in the jacket is priceless. When I took off my jacket for the last time, I wrote down 3 personal goals I challenged myself to do. After convention is over, the lights are off, and everyone goes home, challenge yourself to:

–Look Up: No matter the result of your contest. Win or lose. Look up and be proud of who you are, the people you’ve represented, and the organizational jacket you wear. Share your experiences with others. Sometimes the greatest wins in life are disguised as losses in the moment. Look up because so many really do look up to you. LOOK UP

–Reach Out: Whether you are a current or an Alumni member, challenge yourself with a goal to persuade at least 3 people to join and be an active member of a local FFA chapter and Ag-Ed Program. By reaching out to others we are giving back in very important way. Imagine how many people can be involved if we each committed to reaching out sharing our story with just those 3 people. I’ll let you do the math. 😉 REACH OUT

–Be Thankful: Everyone of us, current or has-beens have someone to thank who inspired, drove us to events, taught us Ag-Ed, cheered us on, and comforted us when things didn’t always go our way. Be thankful for the opportunities, the memories, and the people (Ag Teacher, Parent, Sponsor, etc) who got you there. BE THANKFUL.

Once again, congrats to everyone and here’s to this life changing organization that has and will continue to make a difference in the lives of so many people. I’m so grateful for the tremendous experience I had and very excited for your experience too! You may retire the jacket, but never retire the heart behind it. Let the Blue Corduroy Change your life this week. #FFAalumni #NationalConvention

Behind Brandon Baumgarten’s New Book: The Habitat For Holiness

Press Release

Publisher: Westbow Press

Undersigned: Thomas Nelson/Zondervan

Author: Brandon Baumgarten

SHAWNEE, Oklahoma- Westbow Press Author Brandon Baumgarten officially launched his new book at Hazel Dell Baptist Church. The Habitat for Holiness is a book about calling all people to cultivate a Christlike lifestyle. “We have a holy Bible. We serve a Holy Lord. But I also believe we need to live as a Holy Church.” Baumgarten said. The habitat is a metaphor for our spiritual space in our lives. The book launch consisted of a highlight video, a book dedication to the late Rev. William Ryan, and concluded with Baumgarten sharing the heart of the book. “I’m such an imperfect Christian, but I know we serve a perfect God who has a perfect will for each of our lives. It starts with our daily habits. Will we choose to live a lifestyle of holiness for God?” Baumgarten’s hope through this book is to see people experiencing personal revival with the Lord by living a holy lifestyle. There are 10 sections in the book that are identified to help grow your relationship with God through holy living.

Baumgarten is a youth/music minister and also authored the popular leadership book titled “Caught Up & Called Out” He is a frequent speaker at churches, schools, and conferences. The Habitat for Holiness is available online on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and where most major books are sold. The book is also available in kindle, paperback, and hard cover formats.

“You are going to be a Father!”

It was normal day in March of this year. I was scheduling some more speaking events to finalize my spring calendar. Anyone who follows public speaking knows that spring can be one of the busiest seasons. The day was normal as can be until I got a phone call from my dad that changed everything. It was right after lunch when my dad said, “Son, Uncle Bill passed away earlier this morning. I just wanted you to know He made it to Heaven.”

Immediately my heart sunk for a pillar in our family as Uncle Bill or Pastor Bill Ryan as many had known him as, had lived far into his 90s and had served the Lord with all his heart. Even though I knew where he was spending eternity at it was still a difficult loss to process. A man who meant so much to us, guided us, prayed for us, and was always pushing us closer to God had departed to His Heavenly home. I remember leaving the house and began driving up and down the road to reflect, process, and cry over a life that impacted so many including my own.

Then like clockwork April called me and asked where I was at. I told her the news of Uncle Bill and she listened and encouraged me. She then asked me to come home so we could visit about it.

I remember coming home sitting on the couch still teary eyed from the news. Then April said something I’ll never forget, “I have some news. You are Going to be a Father!”

Suddenly, the tears of sadness in my eyes turned to tears of joy. I couldn’t believe the blessing that was on the way! The Lord brought everything full circle and did what He is known for doing. We give thanks to God for His timing and blessing!

As my wife and I get ready for a life changing day tomorrow, I ask for your prayers as we prepare to meet our daughter. I can’t wait to hold her and see her for the first time! My hope is that she will know the fullness of her father’s heart, not just of me, but of her Heavenly Father. I want her to know how much she is loved and adored by an Almighty God. I want her to have everything God has in store for her. I want her to discover her calling in Christ and run with endurance to the destiny He has for her. We want her to know the Fullness of the Father’s Heart. Yes we are nervous and anxious, but this soon to be dad is resting in the Father who is Peaceful and Secure. His Name is Jesus. Do you know Him? Because as much as I’m excited to see our baby daughter tomorrow, I know our Father in Heaven is even more anxious and excited to see you, His child in His loving arms. Amen to what God has already done. Amen to what He is going to do tomorrow. And Amen to what He can do in your life. Here’s to an exciting day tomorrow and beyond! May we all experience the Fullness of the Father’s Heart. #FullnessOfTheFathersHeart #NewBlog

We are clinging to this verse:

“The LORD is the one who will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.” -Deuteronomy 31:8 (CSB)



“If your church is on fire(for God), you will not have to advertise it.” -Rev. Leonard Ravenhill

A few weeks ago while I was speaking down in Louisiana, my wife and I took a couple backroads sight seeing on our way home. We explored and looked around at part of the country we had never seen before. On one of these back roads there were thick trees covering both sides of the road. You couldn’t see much as the road had curves and constant changes in it. We drove for what seemed like an eternity until suddenly, an old white wooden structure appeared to the side of us. We couldn’t tell what it was at first.

As we drove closer we noticed that this old abandoned building used to be a church building surrounded by rusty chain links. We stopped the car on the side of the road and snapped a photo of it. I got out of the vehicle walked to the entrance and put my hand on the rusty chain links. I took a deep breath and just absorbed the view. It fascinated me that this piece of history was so beautifully hidden. Now my wife and I have seen old church buildings before on the side of the road, but this one was different. It was like we had stepped back in time. This old run down church was no more and it made me wonder why. Why did it expire? How did it lose its spark? What made it close the doors?

Suddenly, I could feel the Lord working on my heart: “Many of my people are like this church. They are weary, run down, and empty in their hearts. In need of Me.”

My spirit trembled when I heard this, because I knew that frequently includes me. I’ve been weary, I’ve been run down, and there are times I just feel utterly empty. I desire to be fired up for God, but there are days I feel like I don’t even have a flare. The devil wants to make you think there is a chain link fence around you holding you back just like that church. But Jesus. Oh But Jesus is in the RESTORATION Business! He alone can restore what you need in your life. He can break the chains surrounding your life! He can bust a chain-link Church! He can unlock the locks the devil has been using against you. And He can bring the life, the fire, and the spark that your run down soul needs. We all stand in need of Jesus.

Let me pose this question to you:

“If Jesus was to suddenly stop on the side of the road and swing by, what would your church look like?”

“In other words, what would your life look like?”

Anything. I repeat: ANYTHING you are going through, Jesus can fix.

Whether you feel like your life is in top-notch shape spiritually or perhaps more comparable to that of this old church: restricted, empty, and run down. Maybe you are uncertain and don’t know what the status of your church is. Pastor Leonard Ravenhill put it this way, “If your church is on fire(for God), you will not have to advertise it.” The truth is that unlike this abandoned church building, we are not alone. Jesus is with us and He is willing to restore your church, restore your life, and restore your fire!

As my wife and I headed back home I could not stop thinking about the old church and what it used to represent. My ultimate hope is when people see our lives, when people see our church, there will be no question “What” we represent, and most importantly, “Who” we represent. May it always be Jesus!

#TheChainLinkChurch #JesusIsLife #Restore #BlogPost

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

-1 Peter 5:10(ESV)

“Yuck! BUG GUTS!”

As my wife and I were heading home on the road we encountered something interesting….

“Boom!” A quick flash across our windshield as a lightening bug hits our glass. April and I both looked at the windshield, “Woah! Bug guts. Yuck.” Bug guts smeared a small part of the window. Then just a few milliseconds there emerged a highly visible green streak on the window and it looked cool in the dark I have to admit, but soon that green neon flare dried out. Eventually, it along with the bug guts were no longer visible and we continued on our way. The lightening bug which caught our attention in the moment soon became a distant memory.

The point of this post is not to give you an entomology lesson, but to encourage you with a lesson God gave me through it.

You know we didn’t see the flare of the lightening bug, until we after we saw the guts of the bug. Pardon the pun, but it takes Guts to follow Jesus. It takes guts to do our part in the Kingdom of God. Perhaps you have been serving God faithfully whether through your church or community. It takes guts; it takes courage to faithfully serve God. Perhaps you have been taking time to disciple someone or show up early on Sundays to teach Sunday School. Or maybe you have been serving your church or local ministry in a different way. All these things require effort and sacrifice, they require guts of courage. However, I am reminded that through the labor, sacrifices, and energy, that through the impact of the guts, there will soon emerge a flare from it just like the lightening bug. God is going to use what you are doing to draw others to Him.

People may not always see the hard work you do behind the scenes or the time you spend on your knees in prayer, but they will eventually see the flare the comes from it through your faith. God knows everything you do. He knows all the details and knows the heart behind it. God sees the inroads to your labor and is preparing your life as a testimony to Him.

One question that I often ask people is, “How do you want to be remembered?”

Because one day we are going to hit the windshield in life and this short time will be remembered by what we did. I don’t know about you, but if there is anything I want to be remembered by in this life for it would be my relationship with Jesus. I would to do everything I can to leave a big enough flair that points people to the majesty of God. Something that catches their attention, even if for a moment, I pray that the impact of our lives reveal the reason we lived and more importantly, who we lived for. This post may seem silly, but I pray it is for someone. We are all like the bug, we each have guts to do what it takes to honor God. So may this post about bug guts serve as a reminder to us all that Jesus is worthy of all we have, do, and contribute. So let’s give Him our guts, after all, as believers, He already has our hearts. #BugGuts #GutsForJesus #Blog

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” -Galatians 6:9 (NKJV)

It was just another day in B-Baum’s car driving home from a training. Growing up in Northeast Oklahoma you’d think you have seen it all until you encounter something you have never seen before…..

As I was driving by myself I noticed a small sign covered by tree limbs which said the word, “battlefield”. It was hard to read but it grabbed my attention. I pulled my car to look closer at the sign. As I got closer I indeed confirmed that it said “battlefield turn right”. So with intrigue getting the better of me, I turned right and followed the windy road of pavement, concrete, and then dirt until I saw a sign which said, Cabin Creek Civil War Preservation. Being a history nerd, I geeked out and followed the sign. I had never seen a Civil War Battlefield before and I was exciting to see what was ahead. Soon I drove onto a tree covered path where the sun became barely visible. Then I drove over a ravine in the dirt road. As I came over the top I then saw something I had never seen before…. the Civil War Battlefield of Cabin Creek.

I parked my car and quietly stepped out. As I walked around, I noticed it was one of the quietest places I had ever been to. Something about it seemed hallowed. I noticed the markings and memorials that had been put on the field to remember those who had died so many years ago. The markers were very old, but they told a story of a hard fought battle between the Confederate and Union Armies.

As I continued to walk around the battlefield and saw the markers of those soldiers who had died, an overwhelming feeling came over me. The Holy Spirit spoke to me through a thought, “I wonder how many of these soldiers knew who Jesus was.” Being in that setting and taking it all in, the Lord made me realize that we all are called to a battlefield. It may not be a physical one, but it is indeed a battle, a battle for souls. The Devil is fighting left and right against us, but when we realize the battlefield God has called us to, we then know where God wants us to be. For some, your battlefield might be your school, for others it might be your work. God is placing you there because He is using you in the battle for souls. He is using you to be a witness, to be a representative, to be a vessel of the Lord.

Don’t back down from the battlefield God is calling you to. How many people in your life need to know about Jesus and have yet to hear? They are on our battlefield and need to hear the Gospel. There are people you are meant to minister to and share Christ with. We must share, we must keep pressing on and pursuing the Victory God has in store! He is calling us all to be engaged in a battle. A battle for eternity. At times it may look dark and gloomy or feel like our witness does not work, but thankfully, we serve a God who fights and always wins our battles. Ask yourself these questions,

“Where is my battlefield?”

“Who is God calling me to minister to while I’m on my battlefield?”

“What is God teaching me while I’m on my battlefield?”

As I drove away from the battlefield, I left with a greater appreciation for the Civil War, but also with a reminder that we all play a part in the battle for eternity. And even though things get tough, I am assured to know that the God of Heaven and Earth is right there on the battlefield with us. As the singer Chris Tomlin put it, “I know who goes before me, I know who stands behind. The God of Angel Armies is always by my side.” Although the Civil War is over, the battle for the eternity of souls is still on. Let’s not be idle in the fight, but let’s run with endurance knowing that the God who is fighting our battles has already won the war! #TheBattlefield #CivilWar #FightMyBattles #History

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

-Romans 8:31 (ESV)