It's a New Start

It's been a long, hard, fun and exciting road, but we have started a new chapter in our lives. I will be the preacher at a congregation in Knott, Tx (20 m North of Big Springs and 90 South of Lubbock). I will be doing away with this blog in the near future and moving to our new home at www.knottmywill.wordpress.com Please keep our family in your prayers as we transition into this new work. We give God all praise, honor and glory for His work and accomplishing His will in us and around us!

Knott my will

I was reminded this weekend of how good God is. Barb, the kids and I made the long hall over to Lubbock, Tx to thank some of our favorite people out at Hart. We spent this past weekend with the Merritts...we were SPOILED! We were also super blessed to see Barb's life long BFF Mary, Tony and Beth, Annie (and meet her new bo :), JLae and many, many other great men and women of God.

While we were in Lubbock, we decided to look around out there in the flat lands to see if there were job possibilities. That was not my choice (hence the title), but my wife was anxious, my kids needed to be in school and I needed to find a job! We sent out several resumes, but like all the times before, they were met with little response. A few instructors at Sunset told me about a cool little church just North of Big Springs in a little town called Knott. I, like you, have never heard of Knott, Tx! I didn't really want to be out in West Tx, but I also didn't want to run like Jonah if that's where God was sending me. I sent my application, called the elder to make sure he got it and see if we could stop by Sunday. The elder asked me to preach. Sunday morning we got up and worshipped at SunRISE (north University) trying to check them out. Afterwards, we went with Mary and her family to their house and had an awesome lunch.

We packed up, loaded the car and drove an 1 hr and a half South to Knott. We drove down a farm road to a little building and a little house next door to the building. Shortly after arriving, the elder I had spoken with on the phone arrived with his sweet wife. They gave us a tour of the building and the house. They were very kind and as the members began to arrive, everyone was excited to see us and so nice. You could tell there was truly a love for Christ in them and they were as sincere as they could be. I preached and everyone was very encouraging. 3 people handed us money to help with gas (they are very mission minded!). They invited us to Big Springs for dinner and continued to shower us with kindness. Now when we were told it was a "good little congregation", we didn't really know what that meant...now we DO! They were kind, generous, encouraging and just exactly NOT (no pun...well maybe a little...intended) what I was expecting! We were asked to return Sunday to preach. I don't know if this is where we will end up, but Barb and I loved it. The kids enjoyed themselves and I think it has great potential for our family, but also for the Kingdom! Please keep this opportunity in your prayers as we return Saturday and Sunday to spend more time with the church and meet an elder who was unable to be there last Sunday. We are excited and hopeful as we prayerfully seek God's will in our lives!

"Come and listen" or "Go and teach"

Barb and I had a good conversation on the way home from McAlester. One thing that came up was expectations and responsibilities of a Christian. There is a struggle/expectation of "come to 'church' and sit and listen". Some of Jesus last words on earth were "go...and teach". Now having mission work in my past, many would jump to the conclusion that I'm talking "foreign". I'm talking about crossing your yard or street to share your life and faith with a neighbor. I'm a firm believer that Jesus called us to shine where we are at. I've been blessed to see many people who are being a light anywhere and everywhere they are! Next time you thinking about "going to church" think "go and teach" Monday through Saturday and then you can come and listen on Sunday. Jesus didn't make people "come" to Him, He came to seek and save the lost!

Back to the states

Sorry! I know I haven't posted on here, but we've been traveling for what seems like nearly a week now. We arrived in FTW last Wednesday. We have been visiting with family and supporters. It's been great to see everyone! I haven't missed Leon too much, b/c it still feels like we are just visiting and returning back there in a couple of weeks. Please remember us in your prayers as we look for a new ministry job!

Land Locked

Well, you might have been hearing about Hurrican Alex and all the rain in Mexico. It's caused the people here a lot of problems and suffering. It's also causing us a little concern! We loaded our moving truck and it left Thursday. We load up this next week and head North in the Quest. The only problem is the following article. As you can see from the picture above, there's more problems at the border than drugs these days! The Texas bridges are closed until the water goes down...assuming the water doesn't wash them away. You might think I'm kinda, but various other bridges have given way to the water. There have been mudslides and roads have collapsed! We would ask for your prayers for our family and our stuff as we head North to visit you. Also, we are hoping to set up some interviews in the following weeks. Please pray that God will place us with the right congregation!!!

Great Time with the Palafox Family

This past weekend, we went to visit the Palafox family in GDL and say our good byes to the church there. Jose and Maria loved on us and did all kinds of special stuff for us. The church had a potluck and a special time to honor us with words and gifts! It was awesome to hear of the lives God has used us to impact, even if it was in a small way! He is good and we give Him all praise, glory and honor!

Welcome Abby Ann Neal!!!

Sunday June 27th, the church threw a surprise going away party for us. It was a lot of fun, kind words, good memories and tears! Here's The video that was made for us. Enjoy it!!

Forgotten yet?

I just finished John Eldrege's book Desire. It's a fairly interesting read. John delves into life as "the journey of the heart" for over 200 pages. Toward the end he talks a lot about how our busy lives can be used by Satan to make us forget. Forget we haven't spent time with God: His word or prayer, forget the great things He has done for us or even forget how much He loves us. As we deal with the whirlpool know as change, I was challenged to think "am I forgetting?" God has been so great to me all my life! I'm blessed with a beautiful wife, and three awesome kids. Barb and I have been through so much over the years. In the preaching school we had $800 a month support and our rent was $400. Every month we ate and never worried about where it was all going to come from. Over the years we have had various challenges, moves and times of uncertainy, but God was ALWAYS certain and He never left us. Though some may have disappointed us; be it friendships, churches, co-workers or even just disappointment in ourselves, God was faithful.

It's no wonder God told Joshua to have 12 men take out twelve stones to make an altar after crossing the Jordan and then to tell their children about that great day. It's obvious why Jesus said "Do this in remembrance of me". We FORGET and there's no amount of post-it notes that will ever save us from life's forgetfulness!

We must seek God daily and we must take special time to turn off the TV, get away from the computer and just take time to remember. Share the stories, tell the kids about the time when God _______ or share with your small group about how God has used your life or faith. Tell of how great He is and don't stop telling. Even if people respond "yeah, you already told us that one", just share it with even more excitement. Don't let God's greatness go unnoticed or forgotten, not in your life or in the lives of others. You can NEVER over praise Him and remembering is the key to continuing in your walk with Christ!

20 And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. 21 He said to the Israelites, "In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, 'What do these stones mean?' 22 tell them, 'Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.' 23 For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. 24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God." Joshua 4:20-24

"O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption." Psalm 130:7