Ethiopia, Africa

In a day we will sit down and give Thanks for the many blessings God has given unto us and our families. We are truly a blessed people.

I just returned from Ethiopia a few day's ago and will not be the same this Thanksgiving. I pray that God will allow my senses to continually be alive to what is happening with those who are in need around me.

Bless those, God, who do not have and use me to help provide for them, and teach them that they are better than beggers.

I will be telling the story of Ethiopia, Africa in the weeks to come. Until then, here are a few pics of our trip.

Happy Thanksgiving and Blessings!

our mission...

This past weekend I was privileged to be in Indiana to take part in the friday night state-wide IMPACT service.  It was awesome to witness the graduation of 6 interns out of zone 1 of Impact Leadership Development.

I shared the excitement of DYD's Eddie & Carrie Underwood as they expressed how proud they were of these 6 young students & their commitment to follow Christ & make a difference.

On my second and final connection (memphis, tn-springfield, mo) of my flight home...I experienced a real God moment (It seems that if we are open & willing those things just POP up completely out of nowhere...)  anyways...i was a little tired from a weekend of preaching & I was also coming off of a huge sugar rush, thank you very much stormie & jessica for introducing me to “Ale-8” a “rock-your-world” soda created in KY (www.ale8one.com)...so on my second flight departing at 8pm i was ready to catch a few zzz's.

An older gentleman sat down beside me and we immediately began to strike up a conversation.  After finding out that I was a minister & worked quite often with young people, he exclaimed “that's awesome, I actually just finished writing a letter to my son, who is in the middle of his mission.”

This intrigued me so I inquired for some more info.  To make a long story into a short blog...He eventually told me that he & his family belong to the LDS church (mormons). His son (age 19) was one year into a 2 year mission in Ghana, Africa.

I told him that I was very inspired by his son's commitment to serve a 2yr mission, especially at such a young age.  

He responded by telling me that between 80-90% of all mormon men serve a 2yr mission, and the majority do it when they turn 18!  

I was in shock.  I mean what a commitment!  Every year young people (by the thousands) in the LDS church commit 2 years of their life to do NOTHING but MISSION with the goal of spreading their mormon beliefs.  

You see this is a main reason why the mormon church is one of the fastest growing churches in the world... dedicated young people on MISSION.  

You may ask, “Did you debate with him?” “Did you try to convince & show him why Mormonism is a false doctrine?”

My answer is no.  I simply listened to him, answered any questions that he would ask me about my faith, and most of all prayed, “God forgive me & my Christian brothers & sisters for our lack of commitment to true MISSION.”  

Share some thoughts/discussion with us on this topic of MISSION...

So my daughter is getting to march in the Rose Bowl this year with her band.

I went to watch her show last night at the high school football playoffs. We were there with our youth ministry team, we had coffee, chili dogs, popcorn, we were all bundled up having a great time.

There is a tragic part to this happy moment.

Our topic of conversation throughout the evening was the fact that we had three all-state players that are suspended for the season because they got busted at a party drinking. I applaud our coach and his stand as we have a championship caliber team, and I hope they have learned a lesson for their choice.

Before the game we had a great devotion and the word “paths” came up. Wow, I pray that these guys realize that GOD is fighting for us and wants us to do the right thing, choose the right path to walk down, and choose the right crowd to hang around.

I pray for Godly students to find these players and love them and give them options to walk a new path.

When the path is dark, and you are having trouble finding your way, remember HE is a lamp unto our feet and a light for our path.

Be a GOD lover.

Jeremiah 20:11 But God, a most fierce warrior is at my side.

My devotion this morning was in James 4: 14-17.

In v. 14 James makes a big statement: “You don't even know what will happen tomorrow.” He then asks a huge question: WHAT IS YOUR LIFE?

86,400 seconds in a day and how do you use them? These passages tell us not to boast or get wrapped up in our own gig, we are a mist that is here for a little while and then vanishes away.

Look for ways to live a fulfilled life. Take initiative.

The conclusion of the chapter says anyone who knows to do good and does not do it, it is a sin. This is God's perspective on inaction.

Man, it is great to be saved through Jesus Christ, but that isn't the final journey. Go do something. You know to do good so GO DO IT!

Here are a couple of pictures to help you FOLLOW THE IMPACT.

Jeremiah Ruth giving water to a homeless man.

Pastor Mark Rector and Teena Skiles praying for a homeless lady with cancer.

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