Why should God let me into Heaven?

I ran across a document I wrote as part of an application to get into a choir.  The question asked, "What would you tell God if He asked you why should He let you into Heaven?"

Dear Lord,

I am a sinner, separated from you by my own rebellion and by my inherited unworthiness.  I have broken all of your commands at a heart level.  I have made myself God in my own sight.  I am very sorry for this.  (Rom 3:11)

However, you searched for me and called me.  I am so thankful for that.  I accepted your invitation to relationship in 1994.  I received you and made you my own.  I claimed your Son’s crucified blood and body as the payment for my sins.  I believe your Son is alive and exalted.  It is His worthiness and His alone that I claim as my own.   Your Holy Spirit’s seal has confirmed this.  I am a fellow heir with your own Son, and an adopted child of Yours. (John 11:25, Eph 1:7, Gal 3:26-29 and Gal 4:1-7)

You have marked me.  You chose me.  I have citizenship in Your Heaven now.  (Eph 1:13, Eph 2:8, Eph 1:4, Phil 4:20)

You cannot condemn me because I am buried with Christ, and resurrected with Him also.  I am so glad you only see your Son’s glory when you look at me.  Thank you for forgiving and forgetting my sins.  (Rom 8:1-2)

You have made these promises and declarations and cannot go back on your own word. (Psalm 145:14)

PS.  Of course God will not ask me why He needs to let me into His heaven.  My name will be already written in the book of Life, and I only long to hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant”.  

Thank you for the opportunity to remind myself of these wonderful, other-worldly, blessings on my life.

Jesus is coming soon.  And, I will be ready.

I wrote that 3 years ago in an application sense trying to show off my knowledge of eternal security.  Truthfully, I think I would probably just fall on my face and ask for Mercy.

The nightmare before Christmas!

This time of year reminds me to be very thankful.  Jump in my blog and go for a ride with me for a few minutes.  I had just left a Christmas Party at my office in San Diego.  I was excited for the mug, candy, and gift card to McDonald's.   It was the Christmas season and I was leaving right after our lunch to head to Phoenix to spend the holidays with my family.  It is about a 5 hour ride if you don't stop too long in Yuma for gas and food.  I prayed that God would give me the opportunity to give like He had given so much to me.  And I was off....


The first 2 1/2 hours went by quickly through the mountains and desert.  I play my Christian music through my ipod and just sing along the whole way.  The time goes by very quickly.  I made my usual stop in Yuma for gas.   It was a cold night, and I saw a man with a sign that read "hungry and traveling".   Hmm...I thought, as I slowed down.    I rolled down the window, and instead of just giving a dollar, I asked him, "Where are you going?"  He replied, "Gila Bend."  He then asked me where I was going.  I meekly answered, "Phoenix."  Gulp.  I knew that I had opened a can of worms and he now knew there was no reason for me not to take him in my big, spacious, Nissan Murano.  Oh well, I thought, then replied, "Come on in, I'll get you to Gila Bend."


As soon as he got in the car, I realized I had misjudged the situation greatly.  The smell of  body odor and alcohol permeated his being.  Trying to think quickly, I asked if he wanted some food, hoping this might sober him up.  He said yes.  I stopped across the street at KFC to get a quick sandwich.  He got out of the car and followed me in.  He was making a scene, being loud, and everyone was looking at me.  I was so embarrassed.  And, fear was starting to grow inside me.


Fortunately, I thought quickly before we got into the car.  I made a call to my brother and told him the situation, and said to call me back in 2 hours.   If I didn't answer, he was to call the police.  As I got in, I put a small knife between my legs, hidden, so that I might react to any troublesome situation.  I unlocked his door and the journey commenced.


Things seemed to start out okay.  We got on the road, and he starts the conversation with, "I guess this is where I tell you my story."  After a pause, he grinned and told me his name was Shawn.  He started telling his story, it was mostly jumbled, disconnected, and contradictory.  Sometimes I think he realized the contradictions and would backtrack his story.  But, being very inebriated, he couldn't follow his own story.  Let me just say that the words, "on the run", "murder one", "killed a nigger", "sister's a whore", "pedophila", "child abuse" all came up during thIs introduction.   Needless to say, I am very scared and wondering when I will have to draw my knife.  My heart was pounding, and I think every sense in my body was on full alert.  


He then told me he had to go pee.  I saw a rest area sign in another couple miles.  He couldn't wait.  He said he'd just go in his pants.  He did smell as if that was an option, but I didn't want it on my seats.  So, I saw an empty cup.  He whipped his penis out and started peeing as I sped down the highway.  Oh my, what was happening?  How did I get into this mess.  He proceeded to tell me more of his story, but he seemed to start getting angry and scarier.  I tried to steer the conversation to happy topics, but his life seemed to have so many sad and tragic endings.  At one point, he stopped talking to me and turned his head and just started staring at me.  I was ready to stab him, but I just asked him why he was staring at me.  There seemed something very sinister in his response.  He sneered, "I'm deciding, if I'm going to pick on you."  My heart skipped a beat.  I know the next response came from the Holy Spirit because everything else in my body was screaming, "Get out of here!"  But, I responded, calmly, "You are not going to do any picking.  I will have to let you out if you do."  I thought to myself, "How stupid was that, Mike."   


About this time, the border stop about half way to Gila Bend appeared.  There were lots of cars and Border Police.  I could have this guy arrested, or turned in, or something.  As my car was getting closer, "Shawn" took something out of his pocket and threw it out of the window.  It looked like a small piece of paper.  I asked him, "What was that?"   He replied smiling, then laughing, "Drugs".  It didn't look like anything, and I thought, "Doesn't this hitchhiker know any hiking etiquette?"  How silly, as if I thought I knew these rules.  The checkpoint appeared, and my decision was nearing, but all I could hear was a voice telling me that I promised to get him to Gila Bend.  What?!  God, you have to be kidding?  Integrity, now?  Well, I slowly pulled away from my last hope.


As we resumed conversing, Shawn took off his hat.  His thick hair was matted but the sides that were outside the hat were sticking up, giving this man the look of horns.  Every time he looked at me, I thought I was looking into the face of Satan.  The cars thinned out, it was about 8 pm, and I just knew that my life might end at any moment.  His every movement was closely monitored by my eyes.  I was ready to send the car into a roll if he tried anything.  It seemed as though he was looking at my legs, and I kept wondering if he saw my knife.


About 30 miles from Gila Bend, he said he had to pee again.  This time there was no cup.  He suggested going in his pants again.  Nooooooo!  I took the first exit, pulled to the side and said "Pee, out there."  I realized that now I was stopped.  He could kill me right here.  I could speed away right now, and just leave him there.  Why couldn't I do this?  I kept hearing the voice, "Keep your word."  
He got back into the car, and he seemed to be getting less drunk, which scared me, because his strength and coordination seemed to be returning.  My heart beat faster and stronger.


Finally, I start doing most of the talking.  I ask him if he knows Jesus.  He says a little.  He says he tried to be a Christian once, but it didn't work.  I explained that the great thing about Jesus, is that He gives us more than just one chance.  And, even if it didn't work on his merit, Jesus still paid the penalty for him if he wanted to accept him as his Savior.  He seemed confused, and seemed sorrowful.  I asked him if I could pray for him.  He declined.  I kept talking about Jesus, because it seemed to soothe him and me. He did say something very sad, that he had no friends, no family. He said, "I guess you are my family."  Although, that sounded very creepy to me, the said thing was, I was probably the closest thing to a family he had seen in a long time.


I was speeding down Interstate 8 at about 95 mph.  I didn't care if I got stopped, at least this guy would get picked up.  No such luck.  However, the lights of Gila Bend came into view.  Wow!  I was never so happier to see Gila Bend.  


I was growing stronger, and bolder with my declarations about Jesus.  He seemed defeated.  It was strange, my heart still felt compassion on him even after being the most scared I had been in my life at his hands.  


I asked him where I could drop him, and he said, "McDonald's".  It was cold out and I wished him luck.  I pulled into McDonald's and parked.  But, he seemed to not to want to move.  He slowly opened the door, then turned and lunged toward my leg.  I visibly flinched.  He took ahold of my leg, and said, "You promised to pray for me!"  Relieved, I said, "Yes, I did."  I said a short, sincere prayer for him for traveling mercies and for God to stay near to him.  He said, "Thank You." and started to leave.  I said, "Wait".  Here is a gift card.  I think it was meant for you.  He took it and left.   SIGH.


I drove a half mile to Burger King, got out and went to the rest room, washed my hands, said a prayer of thanks to God, and got a few paper towels to wipe down my car seat. It smelled of urine and body odor all the rest of the way to Phoenix. God had answered my prayers.  I was a different person, and hopefully, Shawn was too.

Mr. Love's Testimony

Last year I signed up for Lifeline Ministries at the Rock.  It is a ministry that visits those in Nursing homes needing consistent care.  Some are there only for short visits and others are there for the rest of their lives.


The reason for the visits are just to share God's love for those trapped in a bed, lonely, or just needing conversation.  


There were some very advanced patients that could not move or talk.  Those broke my heart.  The nurses said they could hear and understand, so I just prayed for them and encouraged them to talk to God in their minds.  I would stroke their face or hands to let them know that someone cared.  Sometimes it was very difficult, but most of the time I'd let go of any inhibition or fear and let God's love work through me.


One of the patients mostly encouraged me.  I'd walk into his room, and he'd look over, he couldn't recognize me because his vision was blurring because of the MS.  He could barely move one hand still and was able to talk and move his head.  I'd say Hello, his smile would light up, and his eyebrows would raise from recognition.


He had been a gang banger, and had some pretty serious tattoos.  He had dark curly hair.  He always talked about his two boys whom he was so proud.  He was tall about 6'4", and talked of his basketball days. 


While taking drugs he overdosed and fell into a coma for 6 months. He loved telling me of his first visit to the afterlife.  He saw his Grandmother there and his wife's Father who both had just recently passed away.  His Grandmother slugged him in the arm, and told him he wasn't supposed to be there.  That is when he came back into consciousness, and was revived.  


His Grandmother used to read him the Bible and teach him songs like "Jesus loves me", and "This little light of me".  He could recite the 23rd Psalm, and John 3:16.  I would always make him recite his verses and we'd sing both those songs together.  He would always laugh.  He always wanted me to pray for his boys and his family.  He so wanted to be with them and watch over them.


He said he was lonely and we'd pray for visitors.  He was always excited to tell me when the prayers were answered and his boys would come visit.  


Later, I asked him if he wanted to learn another Love verse.  See, his name was Robert Love, and I'd always refer to him as MR. Love.  I told him there was a chapter in the Bible written about him.  The love chapter in 1st Corinthians 13.  

 ⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 ⁸Love never fails.

I changed it a bit, and would say Robert Love is patient, Robert Love is kind, Robert Love does not envy...and so on.

He would always get the biggest smile.  

Since his hearing was his best sense, I got him an Ipod shuffle and put some of his favorites rap artists on it.  I also snuck the audio book of John on it.  He laughed the next week after he listened to his rap interspersed with a narrator reading John.  He said he loved it, and  it helped him sleep.

One week I got to the nursing home and he wasn't in his room.  The nurses told me he was at the hospital because he had the flu.  I got the name of the hospital and went.  The nurse there told me he was discharged.  I asked where?  She said back to the home.  I had hoped I had just missed him in the transfer.  I learned the next week after visiting his room that he had been discharged.  He had been discharged of his duties on this earth, and the Lord took him home.  I cried hard.  I missed Mr. Love.  I can still hear his voice repeating the verses in his special accent, and singing those children's song.

Yes, Mr. Love and I will sing those songs to Jesus together one day, and I can hardly wait.

Don't let your circumstances rob you of joy.  Reach out and Love somebody.

1 John 4:16 

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. ¹⁷In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. ¹⁸There is no fear in love.

Unfinished Ending...

After returning from my first trip to Haiti, there seemed to be an air of unfinished business to what we had experienced.  Ali Kaun shared a story from Luke 8:26 about the demon possessed man who wanted to stay at Jesus feet, but Jesus sent him to proclaim what had happened.  Does that seem weird?  Jesus sending someone away, that wanted to follow him.  What happened after that?  She gave an assignment to share 14 "verses" of unfinished business from Haiti.

Here is what I wrote:

1 While the Do Something celebration transpired, a street kid attached himself to my side and followed me wherever I went.  2   He clutched my hand while we walked, and hugged my neck when I picked him up.  He continually smoothed my arm airs between his fingers in a relaxing perpetual motion.  3  This boy asked for water, and I had none, and asked for food, I had none of that either.  He still followed with a big smile content for the affection and love that I willingly gave him.  4  I carried him through the event with his head on my shoulder and my arms around his back squeezing intermittently.  5  A young man approached me with an urgent request for food.  6  I had none to give.  I told him that what he needed was food from heaven and Living Water.  7  He repeated a familiar refrain – “Give me a Bib.”  8  I went to the back stage where a mob-like scene had developed with many Haitians clamoring for Bibles.  We had run out of Creole Bibles.  9  I came back to the young man, who looked defeated as I returned with no Bible.  10  I looked deep into his eyes and told him that I loved him, and that Jesus loved him.  11  I implored him to ask God to send his Holy Bible to him.  I promised that God would surely get a Bible to him someway if he prayed for one.  12 The young man’s countenance changed and he leaned in to give me a hug.  In broken Creole he told me, “Compliments to you for loving me.”  I pointed to the sky to the true source of Love and Life.  13  Chaos started to ensue at the Celebration Event, and our leaders gave direction to head for the truck for a fast departure.  14  I set the young boy down, gave him a hug, and the young man a hug and climbed into the truck.  As we departed with the last vision of two Haitians with outstretched arms, I wondered would they get water or food anytime soon, and would Jesus honor his plea for a Bib?

Matt 6:32b-33

For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you

From China with Love...

My friend Andrew Gyure is in China visiting some orphans north of Beijing on Yalu river over the border from North Korea.  Andy is such a talented writer and traveller that I thought you'd want to eavesdrop on this letter.


Ni hao everyone!

Internet access has been very limited so it's been hard to send any updates before now.  This could be my only one.  We are in the countryside and the living is very primitive by our standards.  The internet goes on and off but mostly it's off.  The electricity constantly goes on and off too.  There have been torrential rain storms for the last 5 days and the lightning is always knocking out the power.   But even when there is no rain, the utilities are far from dependable.  A few days ago I had composed a multiple-paragraph email to you when all of a sudden ... C R A A A A C K!  Lightning knocked the computer out and I lost the entire message.

Upon exiting baggage claim at the Shenyang Airport, I had expected to head for the taxi stand to catch a ride to the train station for my 3 hour journey to the children's home in Dandong.  Instead, I was greeted by a gracious-looking Asian woman wearing a straw hat festooned with ribbons and a flowing scarf (picture an Asian version of Mary Poppins) surrounded by 6 precious children all screaming "Wo men wan ying ni qu Zhong Guo!" (We Welcome You to China!)  It was Kay Lee, Director of the Fengcheng Children's Home.  She and the kids decided to surprise me by picking me up at the airport!  Before I could say "kung pao chicken" two of the older kids whisked my bags out to a waiting van and off we went on the first adventure -- a visit to the Shenyang General Hospital.  One of the kids who recently had an operation for cleft pallet was getting a check up.  What an experience -- if you think the ER's are overcrowded and understaffed in the U.S., you should have seen this place!

I am truly loving and savoring the interaction with the children -- it makes bearing the adverse living conditions worth it.  I am staying in a small (7' x 10') quarter meant for staff.  My next door "neighbor" is the gardener/maintenance man.  There aren't enough descriptive words in my vocabulary to describe the horrendous bathroom I share with him.  Only scalding hot water barely trickles out of the shower head.  The toilet is typical Chinese -- a basin in the floor.  You squat and do your business and hope to God the thing flushes when you pull the string connected to the water tank.  Most of the time it does not flush and you have to use a bucket of water to force your waste down the hole.  There is a small tear in the screen in my window, and with the rain storms, mosquitos have been a BIG problem as are flies.  After racking up no less than 15 mosquito bites, I finally went to town and bought a mosquito net.  Other than the frequent rain, weather has not been as bad as I expected.  It's actually been cool enough to sleep fairly well.  (Thanks for your prayers!)  If only it weren't for the Chinese pillows -- they are like sleeping on a sack of rice, in fact, I'll bet that's exactly what is under the scratchy pillowcase!

I've been teaching the children American folksongs, helping them to practice English and just playing and hanging out with them.  I am also teaching them how to email and use the internet.  If I can find the ingredients at the local store, I want to make chocolate chip cookies one night.  I also took them hiking on the far eastern terminus of the Great Wall which is only 20 miles from here. The bad weather has forced us inside much of the time, but we have been able to shoot baskets and play badminton two or three times.  I also held a "movie night" with Chinese Jet Li DVD's and microwave popcorn -- they had never seen microwave popcorn before!  (I brought it from home-- it's not sold in the markets here.)  The older boys love to just wrestle and engage in all kinds of  horseplay.  Either I overestimated their ability to speak English or mine to speak Mandarin (or a combination of both), but there is more of a communication gap than I thought there would be.  Most of them are "special ed" kids and far behind the other Chinese children their age who can speak English very well.  It didn't take long for me to realize I have ALOT more Mandarin to learn before I can truly communicate well with the Chinese people.  Just knowing the conversational "basics" doesn't really cut it.  But it doesn't take knowing Mandarin to communicate the love of Christ -- I can tell that a smile, a warm hug, my undivided attention and my presence here goes a long way with these children.

The home is run entirely on biblical principles.  The kids spend 6:30 - 7:15 every morning reading their bibles.  We painted a mural of the story of Noah's Ark on one of the walls in the house.  Some of the children grow their own vegetables on the premises; the home actually pays them for what they harvest and then incorporates the produce into the children's meals, thereby teaching them the value of money.  There is a darling little place called "The King's Cafe" where guests and volunteers can relax and hang out and receive their meals.  It doubles as a training ground for 3 of the children with special needs so they learn aspects of good restaurant service-- right down to presenting a check with a mint!  The hope is that one day they can get jobs in the hospitality industry (which is flourishing in China) and thereby contribute to society and earn a living.  One of the things I've been asked to do, given my hotel background, is to teach them some principles of good customer service.  I've conducted 2 "classes" so far, also incorporating some scriptural elements of service and servanthood.  The training was very well received.

The food has been better than I expected and very healthy.  Lots of egg, vegetable and noodle dishes.  And spicy pickled vegetables, an influence from neighboring Korea.  Sometimes something special like meat and vegetable stuffed steamed buns and boiled dumplings.  I'm trying not to offend the ladies in the kitchen by not eating white rice (my doctor has outlawed it for weight loss purposes.)  They give me a baffled look when I pass the rice bowl by as it is, of course, the staple of their diet.  The boys must eat 4 huge bowls with every meal.  I don't know where they put it all!

One of the best aspects of being here is that believe it or not, there is a wonderful little Christian church just up the hill.  The children routinely scamper up there for rehearsals, classes and services. Compared to the other buildings in this area, it is quite modern and comfortable. It is what is known as a "Three-Self" Church, or one of the government-sanctioned and approved Protestant churches in China.  "Three self" refers to the three principles of self-governance, self-support (i.e., financial independence from foreigners) and self-propagation (i.e., indigenous missionary work.)  Governmental influence over Three-Self churches varies widely from city to city and province to province.  I am told the one here has very little regulation or interference from the government.  The church is so close that, during my first 4 nights here, I was actually lulled to sleep by the sweet strains of their choir, practicing their hearts out for an annual praise and worship service that took place this past Sunday night, which I was prvileged to attend.  What a joy to see a place filled to the rafters with Chinese Christians worshipping authentically and with great excitement.  They have a 20-member choir, a praise band, even words to the songs projected on a screen, just like home!  The lady that runs the children's home knows the pastor well and is trying to arrange with the pastor for me to sing "How Great Thou Art" in Mandarin in front of the entire church this coming Sunday!

I have spent one day playing "tourist" in the city of Dandong, walking the "broken bridge" between China and North Korea; "broken" because the American troops bombed it during the Korean War.  (So you can walk halfway across only.)  The contrast between the North Korean and Chinese shoreline of the river is amazing.  Dandong has high rise buildings and a thriving tourist wharf buzzing with activity while North Korea has one or two ramshackle buildings.  Interestingly, the North Korean side also has a ferris wheel -- most likely a facade to make it appear that people have happy lives there.  Word has it no one in Dandong has ever seen the ferris wheel turning.   I got talked into sharing a speedboat ride on the Yalu River with a group of tourists from Singapore -- there were 5 of them plus me.  Before I knew it, to my horror and distress, the captain had us across the river and hugging the North Korean shoreline.  I was shocked that he took us over the border into North Korean waters and protested vigorously.  I kept ducking down to hide my caucasian face thinking that shots could ring out at any second.  (There was no visible military presence at all, but you never know.) The driver kept telling me "it's OK, it's OK", but I insisted he get us out of there immediately.  We were close enough to see people riding bicycles and harvesting crops!  All I could keep thinking about is the whole thing blowing into an international incident and having to explain to Hillary Clinton what the hell I was doing on that boat.

I also explored a very raw and gritty country marketplace featuring meat, seafood and produce. Ducks were being beheaded right in front of me, live giant crickets were writhing in huge bowls destiined to become someone's next meal, and wrinlkly-faced women pounded out thin Chinese pancakes and sold them 20 for 25 cents.  There are not many Western tourists here, if any, so a 6'3" blue-eyed caucasian draws lots of stares and curiosity.  I must have posed for a dozen different pictures while looking around there.

I just heard thunder which means lightning can't be far away, so I had better hit "send" before I lose this entire message too!

Please pray for my mom while I'm away, so far she's doing fine and I'd love to keep it that way!

Love,

Andrew



God's Speed Andrew!
      

Have it YAH-WEH at Burger King!

1st Peter 3:15  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect...


Last week after a long morning, I had a couple of encounters with God.  I was able to provide the funds for immunization shots for a student going to Haiti.  It gave me great pleasure to see this process through.  Seeing his face and joy was worth the money provided.  


After that meeting I went to lunch.  I started off for Chik-fil-a, and as I entered the parking lot I remembered that it was Chicken Sandwich Monday at Burger King.  I turned around and drove a short distance there.  I enjoyed a Chicken sandwich combo for $2.99.  While staring away into space, I was thinking about our gifts of the Holy Spirit class taught by Cisco.  I was just wondering if God was only going to use a gift a giving that some people saw in me.  


Kind of startled, I looked up and saw a man standing next to my booth looking at me.  I said, "hi."  He looked at me intently and said, "You look like you have a lot of peace. Can you tell me how to have that?"  I smiled, and gave God a little chuckle in my head thinking, "So, you are just going to throw one in my lap!"  I motioned with my hand for the gentleman to have a seat.  Some doubts quickly shot through my head.  I asked him if he wanted a burger, his reply, "no".  I asked him if he needed a bus pass or ride, his reply, "no".  I responded, "Tell me your story."  He had gone through a divorce, and was having some financial issues related to that surface.  He was concerned about his image, since he was missing his upper dentures.  He confessed his culpability in the failure of his marriage, and some current issues with drugs he was working out with a 12-step program.  He was really concerned about his past sins and failures. I asked him if he knew Jesus as his Savior.  He said sure, but didn't seem confident.  I asked him "Why would Jesus let you in heaven?"  He seemed perplexed at the question.  He grimaced and said, "'Cause I try hard!?"  I let him know that he could have confidence in that answer.  I asked him if he wanted to know how.  I shared with him the gospel, reminding him that Jesus was the only way to heaven.  We can do nothing to earn our way.  We have to rely on the sacrifice of Jesus, God's perfect son.  I asked him if he believed that.  He said "Yes."  I told him that Jesus' sacrifice removed his sins as far as the east is from the west. He was happy at that thought.  I am, too!  I also told him that Jesus' sacrifice covers our past, present, and future sins.  "Do you want that for yourself," I asked.  "Do you want to receive Jesus as your Savior for your sins", I asked.  "Yes."  Wow.  First time anyone has said that to me when asking that question.  So, with a big grin and holding his hands, he prayed with me to accept Jesus as his Savior.


He had a big, gaping smile, but, that didn't matter any more.  I bought him a hamburger and fries, and agreed to meet for a service later that week at The Rock.


God seemed to be saying to me, "I can use you however I wish."  Just be obedient.


So, be ready, with the reason for your hope.  You never know when you will need it.

Beginning a good work...

So, this is a blog?!  I'm more of a Facebook person with it's faster pace and sniper style.  The title comes from my current Scripture Life verse, Philippians 1:6 "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;".
God is transforming me daily to what He wants me to be.  No, He's not done, and won't be for a long time.  The following posts will be about this transformation.  Hopefully, the work you see being done in me will spark a work in your own life.  See you around....