Boys Learn to Become Men In the Company of Men

Today I had lunch with my "spiritual father" and mentor, Rev. Don R. Logan. (But I call him "Pastor.")
I'm so thankful to have his influence in my life.

"If I have seen further it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants." ~Sir Isaac Newton

Reconnecting with My Father ~ Father's Day Message 2009

In May of 2009, after 36 years, I reconnected with my father.
On Father's day, I shared my story.
It's my privilege to share it here with you.


You can listen here, or download the mp3,
or download it using iTunes by clicking here.

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My Opinion. (Even though you didn't ask for it.)

I am not "against" Halloween. I am not against kids dressing up. I am not against candy. (I am REALLY not against candy.) I am not against making fun of your fears and doing scary and spooky stuff. I'm actually one of those Christians that doesn't think that trick or treating "celebrates Satan." (I know I'm going to get hate-mail for that one. See below for email address.)

What does bother me is the otherwise wonderful ladies who think that dressing up in a "risqué" costume is a good idea for when they go trick or treating with their kids.

1. What message are you sending your little girls?

"The way you get attention, and the way you get people to value you is by displaying your body in a lascivious way."

Don't young girls have enough issues with self-image? Shouldn't we be encouraging them to be respected for their character and intellect, and not just for how cute or sexy they can look? Telling them one thing and then doing another thing sends mixed messages, and your actions will ALWAYS speak louder than your words.

2. If you're a Christian, why purposefully cause your "brothers in Christ" to stumble?

Matthew 5:27-28

²⁷"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' ²⁸But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

~ Jesus, Sermon on the Mount 

Dudes are visual. Enough said.

I just think that we have allowed our culture to shape our values without us realizing it.
And if it is your "value" that your sexiness is what you want to be valued for, more power to you. It's still a free country.
But if you want to cultivate Christ-honoring values... well, maybe you should re-think that costume.

My opinion. You are welcome to disagree.

Mail all grievances to: paul@youreentitledtoyourownopinion.com

This One is Tough One...

Today, I'm performing a funeral service for the husband of a friend that I've never really met.

Heather is our local newspaper reporter. At least, she was when I first "met" her. She did stories in our local area for the St. Charles Herald Guide, and so we became "friends" on facebook.

I followed Heather as she got engaged, picked out a wedding dress, and counted down the days to her wedding. It was sweet.

Afterwards, she posted pictures of the wedding. I was happy for her.

Heather struggled with some physical issues, so from time to time, I would pray for Heather and send her a note of encouragement.

At times when she would struggle, she would talk about how much her husband meant to her. He seemed to be such a great guy, always there for her to pick her up when she was down. I was glad she had him to be strong for her, to help her, and to walk with her in the valleys.

Then last week she was announcing their one year anniversary.

I thought, "Wow, that went by fast!"

Then she posted pictures of preparations she had been making to finally eat her wedding cake topper with her beloved. I thought, that was really neat!

That was last Sunday. Her one year anniversary.

When I got the phone call Monday, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Sean, Heather's husband, had been killed in a tragic automobile accident. I was shocked.

When I got off the phone, tears welled up in my eyes. I thought to myself, "I don't even know this couple, why am I being so emotionally affected?"

I know some people are really negative about facebook and other social media, but over the past couple of years, I've built a different kind of "friendship" with Heather.

Yes, it was a casual acquaintance. And yes, the communication was almost always one way.

But Heather needed a place to remember her husband one more time. And she needed somebody to help her say good-bye.

So, today, here at Life Fellowship, I'll do my best to do just that. In just 30 minutes or so, I'll read the letter Heather wrote for her beloved Sean. And I'll try to keep from crying while I do it.

Say a prayer for Heather, for her family, and for Sean's parents, and his family. They lost someone really special. And in a unique way, I did too.

Oh, and yesterday, Heather posted another picture. A key she's putting into her husband's coat pocket. She wants him to know he's always welcome at the home they shared.

I'm glad Heather's my facebook friend. And I'm glad I have this opportunity to be here for her and her family in real life. I guess that's when social media really "works."

A Poem by Whitney Lingle (2003)

TO PASTOR PAUL:

So many times I turned away

I hid my face in total shame

I knew the whole time

I knew all along

That the ways of the world were wrong

You never seemed to care

How rotten I had become

You never even asked 

The things I had done

You offered to me

Your shoulder & your ear

And gave a reassuring smile

With each condemning tear

There were many jobs & tasks

That you had to do

But time w/ me you put before them

You were truly devoted, I knew

You have played a big part

In who we are today

What you have been to us

No one could ever replace.

To us you were not just our Pastor

To us you are so much more

Our friend, our leader, our mentor

Our group you called “The Core”.

You’ve led us here, to where we are today

Knowing you wouldn’t always be around

All along preparing the way 

For us to step up and lead

So here we are, we’re ready

No regrets, no fears, no worries

Giving it our all, never holding back

Proving to you who we can be

Thanks Whitney!

"Never Discipline in Anger"

Our Associate Pastor, Reverend Jonathan Logan has been teaching a "Biblical Parenting" series on Wednesday nights. As the father of five wonderfully behaved children, and with his command of the Scriptures, Pastor Jonathan has spoken to this topic with authority, humility, and humor. (You'll want to get the CD's).

These past two weeks, Pastor Jonathan has been covering the topic of "discipline." Among the many statements that stuck out to me, Pastor Jonathan reminded us that "discipline is something you do FOR your children, and not something you do TO your children."

I also loved the idea that "if you don't discipline your children at home WITH love now, later the world will discipline your children WITHOUT love."

But I got to thinking about a statement Pastor Jonathan made this past Wednesday... he said, "Never discipline your children in anger."

Now, I'm not a parent, so tell me what you think about this...

I think that one of the reasons some parents will discipline their child in anger is because they didn't discipline their children when the child FIRST needed to be corrected.

Here's my thought. A parent observes their child doing something inappropriate, something that needs correction. They tell their child to "stop that." But the child does not stop. But rather than correct the child's behavior then and there, they let the behavior continue.

Why? Who knows? The parent is tired. The parent doesn't want to fight that battle. The parent thinks the child won't listen anyway, or... because the parent isn't that upset (ie. angry) yet.

And of course, a child that is not corrected with discipline will continue with his/her inappropriate behavior. The parent will continue to tell the child to "stop that." Perhaps he/she will raise his/her voice to show that he's/she's serious. The child is unimpressed. Then the parent begins the countdown... 1... 2... 2-1/2... meanwhile, the child knows that he/she is approaching his/her ever-shifting boundary. But the child MUST find the boundary.

Finally, in utter frustration, and perhaps anger, the parent finally snatches the child up and applies whatever discipline is called for... Not because the parent wants to make sure his/her child receives "discipline at home with love," but because their child has finally made them angry.

I think Pastor Jonathan was trying to tell us that if we would discipline our children when they first exhibited their inappropriate behavior, when we weren't upset, we could have administered that discipline in the proper frame of mind, with self-control, and with love.

Yes, it's a lot of work. Yes, it's a battle. Yes, it's time-consuming and inconvenient. But... aren't your children's character and future worth it?

Tell me what you think.

Change the World.

I am being blown away by Shaun King.

You don't know who he is?

He's the guy that's sent more tents into Haiti than any organization in the world. (Except the Red Cross).

Still don't know who he is?
There's a good reason...

He's a church planter in Urban Atlanta.
He doesn't pastor a mega-church.
He's not on the conference speaking circuit.
And he's not on TV. (Except for the News).
Shaun shouldn't even be alive...

But what you might not realize is... Shaun King is changing the world.

After the earthquakes in Haiti, armed with nothing more than his twitter account, and his fearless passion, Shaun King began to move mountains for the suddenly homeless and shelterless people of Haiti.



Shaun bought a url, http://www.ahomeinhaiti.org/ and began to raise money to ship tents to Haiti.

Like I said, only THE RED CROSS shipped more tents into Haiti than Shaun! $1.5 MILLION WORTH OF TENTS!!!

Then after the initial crisis began to pass, Shaun decided to do something even more ambitious... he decided that he need to build an orphanage for the most hopeless and defenseless people in Haiti, children with cerebral palsy and severe autism. You see, due to superstitions, these children have been literally thrown out of their homes because their parents think they have been cursed by a devil. The Miriam Center will be one of the only of its kind in Haiti.

Shaun once again took his passion and drive to his twitter account to tackle this gargantuan task... and he managed to raise about $85,000. Which is incredible, but he needed to raise $300,000 to meet his first goal.

So, did that stop this inner-city pastor? NO WAY!

Shaun had made a friend while raising money for tents in Haiti... Eva Longoria.



Shaun and Eva launched a plan to make the dream of A Home in Haiti a reality.

And on September 15, they launched http://www.twitchange.com/.

Shaun, a 30, now 31 year old pastor, armed with nothing more than his laptop and twitter account, has managed to garner the support of almost 200 celebrities to help him pull off the first-of-its-kind, celebrity twitter auction for A Home in Haiti.

If you look at the auction in progress, it looks like Shaun's going to get to build that orphanage... and change the world.


So I've got to wonder... "What am I doing to change the world?"
What about you... does it make you wonder?

For Unto Y'all - Christmas Production, Broadmoor Assembly of God

YMI from Years Gone By - 2

YMI from Years Gone By

Today at Life Fellowship

Today was a great day at Life Fellowship.

Today, we launched our 9AM Service. When my alarm went off at little after 6AM, I wondered, "Just who's idea was this to have a 9AM Service anyway?" Oh, yeah... Mine.

I hoped that we would have at least 80 people show up for the early service, so that it would feel like we had a crowd. We had 109. And it was a great service! (And as a bonus, Janice wheeled her wheel chair over by where the backup singers sing, and they handed her  her old mic! Then they all got down on the floor level next to the platform with her, and Janice sang backup with the team in the early service! Yea, God!)

Then I wondered how many people would show up for the 11AM Service! We had been having about 220 or so people attend our "one" 11AM Service for the past several weeks... would we really have 111 people attend and give us a virtual 50/50 split between the two services? We had 132. Whoa!

Earlier in the week, I had removed approximately 30% of the chairs from the sanctuary so that it wouldn't "feel" empty with the reduced number of people in the building for each service, but our first week's numbers indicate we're already at 70-75% capacity of our seating! (The experts tell us it's difficult to grow beyond 80% of your seating capacity). I've already got to put chairs back in the sanctuary!

The XA (Chi Alpha) Team from Tulane and UNO was with us this morning too! Matthew and Jennifer DeGier, and Christine Thrower took 10 minutes to talk about the exciting ministry opportunities that were already happening with the start of the new school year! (Man, I love XA! If God had not called me to pastor Life Fellowship, I would hope that he would call me to be a part of XA!)

As always, we saw several new faces in the crowd, but perhaps more importantly, I saw one old familiar face... a young man who I hadn't seen in church for some months. He was back. And he meant it. Yea God!

We survived both services, (my voice almost didn't survive... I was a bit sick Friday and Saturday), and despite a couple of minor oversights, our Dream Team of volunteers, once again made the dream of Life Fellowship a reality! (I've just got to remember to be sure we have orange juice and some bagels and bananas for them between services! They worked hard and need nourishment!!! Two services make for a long morning!)

I spent the rest of the afternoon preparing materials for our Discovery 301 Growth Track class, and about 5PM the sound of excited children filled our halls as our Children's Christmas Musical practices launched. A few of the parents helped me finish put together the last of the materials and we waited to see who would make it to class. As 6PM rolled around, the auditorium filled with adult students! Would you believe it? Once again I didn't prepare enough materials! I had prepared for 30, but we had closer to 40 students show up! We scrambled to put together several more packets, and started the class. (I told a couple of people that I've been operating as the pastor of a small church for so long, that I hardly know how to act when larger crowds show up!) Anyhow, we made it, and the class was fun!

After class, several in the group headed to Wendy's for a bite, but before I could leave, I had one more opportunity for ministry. That young man I told you about... he came back for our 301 class too. And he needed a little extra time. So we sat. And talked. And cried. And then we got down on our knees and prayed. And when we got up, I could see it in his face... Jesus had touched him. I could see the strength, courage, and hope return to his eyes. He gave me a big hug, and we agreed to get together again, as often as he needed, this week.

And finally, we turned out the lights and headed to Wendy's. Cyndi and I laughed and celebrated and rejoiced over all God had done, and was doing. I mentioned to Cyndi, "I am having the greatest time of my life."

By the time we made it to Wendy's most of the group had finished their meals and moved on to frostys. Cyndi and I ended up sitting at a table adjacent to the group, where we had just the perfect view of what was like our own version of a Norman Rockwell painting. Adults and children, seniors and infants, eating and laughing, talking and playing, joking and encouraging... it was a magical moment to end a wonderful day. 14 hours of the most inspiring and energizing people on the planet!

Man, I love this church.

How Does Your Daughter View Herself?

It's back-to-school time, and back-to-school "puppy love" romances are in full swing.

It always makes me a little sad.

• I'm sad for all the wonderful young ladies who don't think they're so wonderful, so they look for a guy to make them feel wonderful.
• I'm sad because too many bright girls have been conditioned to think that their worth is tied to what some guy thinks about them.

It seems like it starts earlier every year. No longer is she sweet 16 and never been kissed.

• She's 14 and wondering if she's pregnant.
• She's 13 and feeling pressured to go further than she's physically or emotionally prepared for.
• She's 12 and mom & dad think it's cute that she's got a boyfriend.
• She's 11 and the adults in her life tease her about the cute boy in her class.

Girls, with child sized hearts, are having to deal with adult sized hurts... friends, we can do better.

Moms and dads, your daughter is not "boy-crazy." She has been taught that her self-worth is tied to being paired up with a boy.

• She may have low self-esteem.
• She may have an improper self-image.

But she thinks she needs validation from a male.

• And she will do whatever she thinks she needs to do to get that validation.
• And everything she watches on TV, everything she listens to on the radio, and every school sponsored dance tells here exactly where to find it.

Mom & Dad, where is your daughter getting her sense of self-worth from?

• Dad, if you're in the picture, YOU need to be the male she gets her validation from.
• Mom, if dad's not in the picture, you have got to help her see herself as valuable completely apart from what anybody else thinks about her.

Young lady, if you're reading this, my prayer is that you will see yourself the way your Heavenly Father sees you... as infinitely valuable!

God the Father thinks you're so valuable that He gave His One and Only Son, Jesus, so that you would know just how valuable He thinks you are! I hope you never forget it!

So, moms & dads, how does your daughter view herself?

I Was Mighty Turned Around...

Daniel Boone is quoted to have said, "I've never been lost, but I was mighty turned around for three days once."

Well, while I not have been "lost", but for about a year I felt "mighty turned around"! (Who am I kidding! I felt lost!)

Some of you might have wondered what's been going on in my life recently, and especially for those in our congregation, I felt like I wanted to share with you a little bit of my journey.

Last year, as I approached 40, I began to really ask myself some questions, like;

• "What do I want to be when I grow up?"
• "Where do I want to live?"
• "What do I want to be remembered for?"
• "Am I at where I want to be?"
• "Is this all that life has to offer me, or is there something more I should be pursuing?"

Well, those questions sent me into a bit of a quandary, because I really didn't know how to answer those questions. (And that's not a fun place to live.)

The only sure things I knew were;

• I want to be in the center of God's will for my life.
• I want to finish my journey with my wife, Cyndi.
• God has called me to "serve" Him.

So, to make a really long story not quite so long, I think I experienced a mid-life crisis of sorts. I began to seriously consider packing up my wife and dog and running away from everything familiar, in order to try to find the answer to some of these questions.

Fortunately for me, God is good, our church is wonderful, and my wife is wise. So, since I have enough sense not to make a major shift without my wife's 100% support, we held steady. (Which wasn't too hard since we have a great life, here in Bayou Gauche).

This past spring, (2010), it felt like God broke His silence and spoke to me.

What He spoke to me helped me to understand that I'm exactly where He wants me to be, and I'm doing exactly what He wants me to be doing... it's just that I wasn't seeing what He wanted me to see.

So, I began to ask the Lord to help me to see what He wanted me to see. And, wow. This past summer, I saw some things that I've never seen before. You can call it "vision". You can call it a "dream". You can call it "connecting the dots". But whatever you call it, it's absolutely captured my imagination!

I can't wait to get up in the mornings, I hate to go to bed, and I don't want to do anything but pursue the vision/dream I believe God has for me and our church.

So, if it seems like I'm a little different... it's because I am.

And I just wanted you to know.

Writing a Book

If I were ever to write a book, I would like to call it, "Making Peace with My Parents, Making Peace with God, Making Peace with Myself."


MAKING PEACE WITH MY MOTHER

In the mid-90's I went through a very difficult period with my mother. It was awful and embarrassing. I didn't talk about it with anybody.

Here I was, a minister, and I couldn't even have a civil conversation with my mother.

Through God's grace, the sensitivity of a godly woman, a mutually respected friend, and a very supportive wife, my mother and I were able to put our relationship back together.

It was a very emotional and important experience for both of us.


MAKING PEACE WITH MY FATHER

My father disappeared from my life at such an early age, I literally had no memory of him. It was as if I never had a father. And what I didn't have, I didn't miss.

I would watch programs where people were reunited with long-lost relatives after years of searching. I never had any desire to re-connect with my father and wondered if there was something wrong with me.

When I met my father, it was a weird experience. I never knew him, but he knew me.

We decided together to leave the past in the past and forge a relationship looking forward only. I think it was healing for both of us.


MAKING PEACE WITH MYSELF

Growing up without a father, I always looked for the approval of older men who were like father-figures. While that doesn't sound so bad, it turned into a terrible insecurity.

I became obsessed with gaining the approval of men who I thought would somehow validate me with their acceptance. It's an awful way to live.

I became aware of what I was doing in my mid-20's. When I was 28, I had a very important moment when I realized I had to stop allowing my insecurity to undermine my life.

I became comfortable being me, for me. It's a much better place to live!


MAKING PEACE WITH MY GOD

When I was young, we went to the neighborhood church, where I was baptized as a small child.
But then we stopped.
Fortunately, I went just enough to know that God was out there, and that Jesus was His son.

When I was in 10th grade, in a World History class, I learned about the Reformation.
There was more than one flavor of Christianity? That was news to me!
I went looking for God, and a church where I could ease my guilty conscious.

What I found was some nice people, and a nice pastor, and even some sense of righteousness... after all, I was going to church! But what I did not find was God. So, that didn't last long.

During my senior year of High School, I invited myself to church with a friend that I knew was very committed to her church.
I'll never forget walking in that building. These people, in a very not weird way, acted like Jesus was real. That really messed me up.
My friend bought me a Bible the next day, and invited me to keep coming to church with her.
I did keep going.
And one day it happened. I heard the message.
I realized that I had been to church.
I realized that I had been baptized.
I realized that I had played in the bell choir, and had been to Vacation Bible School...
But what I realized that day was that I had never made Jesus Christ MY Savior.
And when the preacher gave the invitation, I raised my hand and prayed the prayer he prayed for me, and became a believer in, and a follower of Jesus Christ.
And that is what made it possible for me to make peace with my mother.
And that is what made it possible for me to make peace with myself.
Which in turn made it possible for me to make peace with my biological father.
All because I had made peace with my Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ, the Son.

We Love Our Community!

The men and women of our church hosted an Easter Egg Hunt and invited the community! We do almost zero advertising (other than facebook and a banner in front of our church) and still attract about 300-400 people for the event!

We provide hot dogs, drinks, face-painting, games, crafts, and about 15,000 candy stuffed Easter eggs! And we do it all for FREE! Of course, it's not really free, it was paid for and provided by the wonderful family of believers we call "Life Fellowship!"

Having a little fun with iMovie...

I was doing a little video editing when I had a silly thought.

Here's the result:

I don't know why, but it's funnier every time I replay it!

(Fortunately, Melissa's a great sport!)

Ha! This is a weird feeling!

So, I found myself on YouTube.

This is the pre-game, homecoming crowning from 1987.

Alhambra High School, CA.

This video was obviously intended to highlight

the homecoming court... but I'm in the video!

Look for me at about 4:30 - 4:45 or so... and again from 5:04 - 5:08!

That's me, the drum major, walking backwards,

with the trumpet tucked under my arm, on the 50 yard line.

(Don't listen to the music at the end,

I'm sure there was something wrong with the audio...)

Oh, and congrats to our homecoming queen too!

HaHaHa!!! This is too funny! (And I was so skinny)...

iBelieve: in The Church!

From week 4 of Life Fellowship's "iBelieve" series...

D-Day & The Church

(Featuring a Tribute to Howard Savoie, WWII & D-Day Veteran, Utah Beach)

Flashing Blue Lights in the Rear View Mirror...

I had an amazing thing happen to me. Blue lights flashed in my rear view mirror. I got pulled over.

"Driver's license, registration, and proof of insurance, please. I pulled you over because your inspection sticker is four months overdue. I'll be right back."

Well, this was actually the second time in my 25 years of driving I had been pulled over for this particular offense... and I knew it was going to be expensive.

"I'm going to let you off with a warning. Your record is clean, and I don't want to mess it up. Just get your inspection sticker taken care of, and have a nice day."

What?! Kindness? Compassion? Does it really still exist?!? It did today.

So thank you, Mr. Police Officer, for your act of kindness and compassion!

So I immediately started looking for a "brake tag" service station!

The first one I came across, I pulled into the driveway, and a friendly, grease covered young man smiled and waved me in.

"Flash your high beams! Now beep your horn! Turn signals! Brake lights! Reverse lights! Windshield wipers! Ok take this inside!"

I paid my $10, and complimented the young man. "You don't mess around, do you?"

"No sir!" he said with a grin...

"I saw your red sticker from last year, and knew exactly what you were here for!"

He scraped off my old sticker, and slapped my new one in place, carefully wiping the scratchings from the old sticker off my windshield and dash.

"This is my day!" I thought, as I reached into my wallet and pulled out a $5 bill.

"Put this in your pocket. Great job!"

He grinned. And on my way I went... all in under 5 minutes.

"Where do you find service like that, anymore?" I thought out loud. I did today!

So, kudos to you young man. I have a feeling you'll do very well in life...

It was an amazing afternoon. Or maybe I'm just easily impressed.

A Love Letter to Your Children

This morning I mentioned how some people have called the Bible, "God's love letter" to His children, and it spurred an idea.

What if you, as a parent, bought a spiral notebook, (one for each of your children,) and you wrote love letters to your children throughout their lives?

What if two or three times a year, you wrote to them and told them how much you loved them, how much they mean to you, how proud of them you are, your dreams and hopes for them, and maybe some of the life lessons they taught you?

And what if you did this every year between now and the time of their own child's first birthday?

And then, what if you gave that spiral notebook to them on their own child's first birthday, when they would really understand what your words mean?

My guess is, that would be something they would treasure and read for the rest of their lives... even after you're gone.

Anyhow... it was just a thought.

What do yo think?

iBelieve: God spoke.

From week 2 of our "iBelieve" series!
Life Fellowship Community Church

Sammie D

This is my Sammie D!

(The D is for "delight", because that's what she is!)

iBelieve: God is.

From Week 1 of our "iBelieve" series!
Life Fellowship Community Church

Pastor's vlog Q & A: A question about heaven.

here's the original question: will we know each other as "family and friends" in heaven like we do here on earth, since we will be spiritual beings with new names. the reason for my question is...if we do know each other..and some of our "family and friends" are not there...that would cause sadness. and there will be no sadness in heaven...

so, what do you think? how did i do? obviously, my answer is not exhaustive, as i was trying to be concise! what are your thoughts? and how would you answer this question differently?

i really did try to be short, but it seems like i can't do that! six minutes is an eternity on the internet!!!

oh, and by the way, my "darting eyes" is me reading my notes! ha!

blessings!

Turning 40 in Two Weeks...

So, I'm turning 40 in a little less than two weeks. I wanted to capture some of my thoughts as I approach this milestone in my life, so I'll be blogging a few things I've been mulling over, over the next few days...

The first thing I've been thinking about is how it is quite possible that my life might be half over!

I guess for some, that might be a little disconcerting, but for me, it's really quite an exciting prospect! You see, I feel like I got a lot of living in, in my first half!

In 40 years:

• I've immigrated from South Korea to Southern California, and from Northern Louisiana to Southern Louisiana!
• I've learned and forgotten how to play the trumpet, and have taken up the guitar!
• I've learned and forgotten how to fly an airplane, and then learned how to ride a motorcycle!
• I've been in and out of the military, during peace time and war, and was on nuclear alert the day the cold war ended!
• While in the USAF, I got paid to fly all over the world, including Alaska, the North Pole, Nevada, California, Idaho, North Dakota, New York, New Jersey, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Florida, Iceland, England, Italy, Sicily, Greece, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates!
• I've changed my career dreams from music*, to flying, to ministry! *(I really was never that good at music).
• I attended three different colleges over 14 years, and finally earned my bachelor's degree!
• I've ministered on staff at four of the most wonderful churches in the world!
• I've held Christian Workers papers, earned a License to Preach, and was finally Ordained to the Full Gospel Ministry with the Assemblies of God!
• I spent 12 of the most wonderful years of my life, working with some of the greatest teenagers of all time*, in Youth Ministry! *(And a few knuckle heads, you know who you are).
• I spent 7 of the most wonderful years of my life serving what has to be the greatest congregation in the world! (As the Pastor, no less!)
• I've gone from being the poor son of a single immigrant mother, to owning two different homes, and accumulating thousands of dollars in debt, to becoming debt free, and now on a path to financial independence...
• I've been the favored son of my mother, the estranged son of my mother, and now the reconciled son of my mother.
• I've been an only child who's never known his father, but have become the youngest of four siblings, and the only son of a father that I've become reunited with...
• I've become the uncle to two of the most wonderful young men in the world... (both of whom I'm so, so proud of).
• I've become the son-in-law, and brother-in-law to what has to be the greatest in-laws in the world...
• I've officiated at my mother-in-law's funeral, my mother's wedding, and my father-in-law's wedding...
• I've made life-long friends at every stage of life, and in every area of my life, whom I am so thankful for... (And YOU know who you are!)
• I've discovered that I'm a dog person. And have had two distinctly wonderful Miniature Schnauzers...
• I've learned to, and fell in love with snow skiing.
• I've become a Mac guy.
• I've fallen in love with New Orleans, her culture, architecture, and restaurants...
• I married the most wonderful girl in the whole wide world, (and even though she spent half of the first half of my life with me, she still wants to spend all of the second half with me!)
• And I've discovered what faith and abundant life in Jesus really means...

And, and, and... countless other things.

So, if you made it this far, what I'm trying to say is that if I got all that living in, in my first half... I CANNOT WAIT TO FIND OUT WHAT THE SECOND HALF HOLDS FOR ME!!!