"I stink" - my daughter says

My wife and I always get our 20 month old daughter to say funny things. If she goes potty in her pants she'll say, "I stink", which means she wants to be changed. She knows she does not want to be in a diaper full of poop, but sometimes does not want to be changed right away because it takes away from her play time. Even though she knows she stinks, she will sacrifice the smell for another cartoon or another toy to play with. If we left her in her diaper all day, she would likely have consequences at the end; a rash. As parents Faith and I will change her, even if she cries and it takes time away from her toys. We care for her and do not want her to stink or have a rash.

I think of Christians who struggle with sin. We know that we really do not want to be in it and at the end of the day it will leave us with consequences, a lot of times more severe than a rash. Instead of walking in our mess, we need to allow God to change us. We need to lay down our sinful cravings and turn to a God that wants to change us and make us better.

The best day of ministry happened tonight!

Tonight was one of the best days of my life in ministry. I met two girls who knew that they needed God and did not deserve Him. I have shared the gospel hundreds of times and have seen thousands of students come to know Jesus, but something seemed different tonight.

As they were dressed in black and had their chains wrapped around their scarred marked wrist, the girls listened to the last message of a five day conference at our church. The message was entitled, "Engaged in Relationships". I spoke on 1. Our relationship with Christ, but primarily focused on 2. Our relationship with friends.

In our small groups at the end of the night, the girls shared how they felt "unwanted" and "worthless". One shared how she was raped and molested and likes to cut herself to feel something and to escape the reality of the world. The other agreed with cutting as she shared her parents referred to her as a mistake. They both said that they were a bad influence on their friends and wanted to be better.

These are the kids that I want in my youth group. They are real. These are the kids any youth pastor should want. Although they were not ready to trust Christ, I believe God is doing something in their hearts. I pray that He draws them to Himself soon.

Honduras: I'm a punk

I'm getting ready to go to another country and teach people that have a different language than me, lead a team where I've never been and go on my first mission trip overseas. Good luck huh?

It is cool to see that God will use anyone to do anything for His glory. I was just an earring wearing, bleached blond hair dying, cussing like a sailor guy with a 0.7GPA my freshman year of high school about 13 years ago. God took a punk and changed his life to lead others to Christ.

I do not know much in life, but I do know that God is good and at the end of the day He is the main thing that matters.

Let God do something in your life today. I'm sure you do not have it all together either. Maybe your marriage is screwed up. Maybe your a cutter. My God is big enough to change your problems. Turn to Him. He loves you.

Jesus says, "I'll do it"

It is amazing to me of how open Jesus' arms are. Reading in Matthew 5: 5-13. This is the passage were the Roman officer asks Jesus to heal his servant. This guy had so much faith in God that he knew that Jesus did not even need to come to his house to touch the servant. He knew that Jesus could just say the words and the servant could be healed. Jesus said that He had not seen faith like that in all of Israel.

We all go through junk in our lives. Jesus is there for us with open arms to heal and love us. What area do you need healing in your life? School? Marriage? Finance? Jesus is there and He cares.

Back from speaking at camp.

I had a blast speaking at a Middle School camp for Dallas Bay in Panama City Beach. It was fun speaking into their lives every morning and evening. I was also able to hang out with them and play games throughout the day. Overall 9 students trusted Christ. Praise God for His salvation that He sends to us. Two parents on the trip said that they left changed as well.

May we never forget the truth of God's Word and how it changes lives forever!