It Is Hard When 'Life Goes On'

In November of 2014 I wrote of the pain that we felt when our son was taken away in a military bus to be taken to an airport and flown to the sight of his basic training. In that post I wrote, “This is the hardest thing his father and I have had to go through in all of his life. This is the time where your faith is tested, where you know that your faith in God is the only thing that keeps you going. You have to pray and believe that your son will be okay and that, with the Lord's help, he will get through this. With the Lord's help we will get through this.”

Now jump ahead 2 years. Our faith once again is being tested and we are going through another hard time in our life as a family. The training that he received while in the military is now being tested in a real life situation in some distant land.

On the day I knew that he would be taken to an airport to be flown to a place where his training may be tested, I cried. I cried a lot. I didn’t know how to really function. Again my heart and stomach were being ripped from my body. I was trying to put on a better face but to no avail. 

On that same day our church was hosting a get-together picnic in honor of some friends. In the morning I was doing alright but the closer the time came for everyone to gather together to eat and enjoy each other’s company I began to feel like I couldn’t breathe.  I had to leave, I had to go home and just be by myself. The truth is I was not ready for the 'life goes on' conversations and laughter that I knew was waiting there at the picnic.

I feel like I need to confess that since our son’s enlistment two years ago, I find myself not feeling compassion for mothers who lament of their sons or daughters leaving the nest for college or maybe even a summer camp. I find myself thinking so what, you can go pick them up anytime you want, you know they are on the soil of our country that is free, you know exactly where they are, you know that on the weekend they will be home back safely in your arms.

I expressed these feelings to the Preacher one day. He understood because he feels the pain of separation too, but he reminded me of how I felt when our son would go off to camp. He reminded me of how I felt the day we moved our son into his own college apartment. At every milestone there has been a sense of loss and the feeling that you are the only one having to deal with that loss.

We are all mother’s and our children are our lives and we each have to endure their leaving.   So to all of the mothers out there who are feeling the pain of a son or daughter inching their way, little by little, out of your nest, I apologize. I apologize if I have not seemed more sympathetic. I apologize for not understanding your pain. I apologize for not being better at offering my shoulder to cry on. I ask for your patience.

As we did two years ago, the Preacher and I ask for your prayers of safety for our son.  

We are praying for your sons and daughters too.

Love from the Preacher and I 

Parallel Worlds – So Different Yet So Similar

Our Prison Ministry Team standing outside the Prison
Photo taken by Juan Rios

The Preacher and I were finishing up working in the office on a Friday evening when I received a text from a friend asking if we would like to meet for dinner. We had not been with them in quite some time and they wanted to reconnect. They were dealing with life changes and wanted some advice on life choices and prayer was much appreciated. We met later that evening. We laughed, we ate, we discussed what if's, we reconnected. The Preacher and I then went home with our stomachs full of good food and our hearts full of love for our friends and for each other.

Early the next morning our Prison Ministry Team met to go to a men's correctional facility 60 miles from our church. We were going to this prison to bring songs of praise and words of wisdom through the Message of the Bible. We entered the front doors of the prison and while going through our security checks we were told of a lock down that had occurred the night before. We were to wait for the guards to check and see if we would be able to see the men, the men who are the church inside these barbed-wire, concrete walls. 

We were given the okay and proceeded down the locked door hallways to our little room we use as a chapel and began to set up. The men slowly made their way to the room. They have smiles on their faces, they are happy to see us. One of the prisoners begins to tell us of the events that took place the night before.

While the Preacher and I were having dinner in a restaurant with our friends a man was being stabbed in the prison. The prisoner's cells were being ransacked by guards who were on high alert. They were ripping apart men's beds and personal belongings looking for more weapons. After the confusion and danger subsided, the men went back to their torn up cells and began the clean-up. Sleep did not come easy nor did it come peacefully.

Did this prisoner, who was telling the story, go on to tell us what a horrible, scary place this prison is? No, he went on to say how he loves the Lord and how he asks God everyday for His discernment. This is something he had never done before walking behind those thick, iron gates.

Upon hearing the prisoner praising the Lord, I stopped and reflected on all I had heard. I thought of the events that took place in my life, in my world, the night before. 

Here this man is living in a world where he is confined to small living quarters, his comings and goings are monitored 24 hours a day, and where danger is around every corner, and yet he sits before us proclaiming his love for Christ and is content where he is. Do I proclaim my love for Christ when life throws hard choices, hard situations and hard people in my life? Would I praise Him if I lived in constant danger? I would like to say that I would but I know better. Many times I don't praise Him in my hard days.

I saw our parallel worlds that morning, the prisoner's and mine. Two completely different worlds and yet so similar. Similar in the since that in some ways we can find ourselves imprisoned by our sin. 

His words changed my perspective of my world. In the eyes of God I too am a sinner just as the prisoner. Even though we live in two different worlds, we both still need a Savior. The prisoner is finding his Savior behind barbed-wire fences. I have no fences keeping me locked away, but I still need to find my Savior. We think our life is so much easier, but is it really?

I never would have thought a man locked behind prison walls would ever minister to me but the Lord always finds a way to show His glory, especially in the least likely places.

Love from the Preacher and I

The Preacher Wept

The Preacher walks into the room. He is returning from his morning run. I look up to greet him when I see that his eyes are red, tears are flowing down his cheeks. I immediately ask him what is wrong. He can't talk, he just sits down in a chair. I ask again, thinking he has hurt himself, or he has received a call of bad news. He shakes his head no, none of the above. He bends over, head in his hands, crying, and he cries out, "Why doesn't prayer work?". I hold him tight.

This same morning I had been reading my devotions. The scripture that was used was John 11:35, "Jesus wept." Those two words say so much about our Savior, of who He is. 

Over the years I have read and seen movies of super heroes. Men and women who use their super powers to save the girl, save towns, and save the world. None do I remember crying. But here is Jesus, the True Savior of the world, crying.

He is crying over the death of His dear friend Lazarus. Maybe He is even crying over the disbelief of the people who have come to the graveside. Had Jesus prayed to the Father for Lazarus' healing? We don't know, but we know he mourned the loss of His friend. Even though Jesus knew He would raise his friend from the dead, there was still a moment of grief. Pain came before the healing.

The actions of the Preacher that morning say so much about who he is too.

The Preacher raises up from the chair and rubs his eyes. I ask again what is wrong. He proceeds to tell me that while on his run he was thinking of a friend whom he had been counseling. This friend had not grasped the grace that God offers and was proceeding down to a very dark place. He was in the pain and could not see the healing. The Preacher had been praying so hard for his friend.

The Preacher is not a super hero. He is not the savior of the world. He doesn't have any super powers. What he does have is his love for his friends, for his church members, for his family, and for the stranger that he meets by chance. 

The Preacher is human. He grieves with a big heart and he loves with a big heart. Maybe, just maybe he does have super powers after all.

Love from the Preacher and I

Let the Little Children Come Unto Me

The Preacher and I attended the CAFO, Christian Alliance for the Orphan, Conference this past week. It is a two day conference dedicated to children. Children from around the world and children here in our own backyards. Story after story we heard of children who have lost parents to death, children who have been abandoned and children who have been preyed upon. We also heard the stories of the foster and adoptive parents who have taken on the life of adoption and fostering these children.

Throughout the conference the scripture, "Let the little children come to me." (Matthew 19:14), kept running through my head. 

Who are the next generation to spread the Good News? It is our children. Who better for Satan to attack and kill than the children. I believe he will do anything he can to keep the children of this world from hearing and spreading the Word of God.

The men and women who organize this conference, I believe, understand this. That is why so many parents, church ministry teams and para-organizations find this conference a breath of fresh air. These people know that along with the hard times joy can be found. There were solutions given, explanations given, hope given and joy given. There was a collective praise for the solutions, for the explanations, for the hope, and praise for the joy.

I think out of all of the speakers and presenters, I thought that Rephat Nyarenda of The Micheal Project said it best. He told the story of how he was orphaned at the age of 9 years old and placed into a foster home of a Zimbabwean couple. He had never seen a washing machine before and he was fascinated the first time he saw his foster mother washing clothes. While the machine was running he decided he needed to open it and fine out how it worked. Due to the machine being engaged in its wash cycle the door was locked, but that did not stop Rephat. He pulled on the door until he got it opened. This of course broke the machine. 

He immediately began to plan his escape, of packing his bags and running. He began to think of who he could blame, but when his foster mother came into the room she asked, "Rephat, did you break the machine?", and he said, "Yes." Truth had been said. She bent low and gave him a hug wrapped tightly and gave him forgiveness by saying, "It's okay."

Two little words said so much to this orphaned child. Through out his Christian journey he remembered the words of his foster mother and knew his Savior was saying the same words, "It's okay!" These two words say forgiveness, they give healing hope and they give peace.

So the next time you see an adoptive parent, a foster parent or even a biological parent struggling with their battle with Satan who is fighting for their children's souls, tell them the Lord wants to wrap them into a hug held tightly and tell them "It's okay" and to keep fighting. Satan will not have your children today!

Here are some pictures from the conference --

Dennis Rainey, Family Life

Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts

Josh Shipp, Teen Expert & Former Foster Youth

Andrew Peterson & the Carrolton Band

The Preacher and our friend, Norah, waiting for the morning session to begin

Love from the Preacher and I

The Day the Preacher and I Said Goodbye to Target

If you know me at all you know that my favorite store is Target. Just walking into the doors makes me happy. The brightly lit aisles, the clean floors, the bright colored merchandise, the friendly, professional and courteous employees, these are what makes Target stand out to me. So you can just imagine my disappointment upon hearing the news of their new "inclusivity" policy. I talked it over with the Preacher and we decided that we would no longer be able to shop at my favorite store.

I first heard of their new policy on social media. I went onto Target's website to see if maybe someone had gotten it wrong, but no, there it was on their home page. (Along with suggestions on how to celebrate "The Day of the Child", which I found ironic.) 

Since reading Target's announcement I have also read many other articles from people who are very concerned for their safety and their children's safety. One of the articles was written by a woman who had been sexually abused as a child. She has spent many years of living in fear, showering in her underwear and even stuffing a towel under the bathroom door. She talked about how, after reading the new policy, how her heart began to race. She could not imagine how she would react if a man should walk into a dressing room or bathroom right behind her! She understands, as do I, that not all transgender people are predators. What she is afraid of and is saying is that deviant men in this world will use this to their advantage. Just another way to exploit women and children.

I also have read several accounts of men who have been arrested for doing the exact thing we are concerned about. The most recent was a Missouri man who was caught filming women in a Target dressing room. He is not a transgender person, he is just a male pervert going where he is not supposed to be. The article was published April 26, 2016. 

The Preacher and I do not discriminate against anyone. We try to show love to everyone we meet. Discrimination is not what we are concerned with. The safety of women and children are being overlooked here just so Target can include .03% of the population and be viewed upon as a politically correct corporation. 

On Monday, April 25, the Preacher and I had to go to Fort Collins for doctor's appointments. The week before I had purchased a couple of items from Target, before I had heard about their new policy, and I needed to return them. The Preacher dropped me off at the door, I went straight to the Service Desk, returned my items and I walked right back out. Do you know how hard that was?! Right there in the aisle was this really cute summer display. It took all of my being to keep on task. The bright lights, the clean floors, the bright colored merchandise, the smiling courteous employees, they were all pulling me in. But I conquered, I resisted their pull.

Don't worry, I will get over my disappointment. I will find a new store. I feel good. I feel like we have stood for morality, something that seems to be slowly vanishing in today's world.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.             Romans 12:2

Love from the Preacher and I

While writing this post, I went to Target's website to check on their policy one more time. This time the policy was no where to be found. They have buried it somewhere within their site.  

Friends Are Friends Forever If....

When you are a part of a church you are a part of a community, a family. And when one of your family decides that the Lord is leading them to a new job, a new home and a new town, you know that you are happy for their new adventure and yet you are sad to see them go.

A long time ago, the Preacher and I were Deans at Gold Coast Christian Camp in Florida. We worked the Junior High week. We would have a "talent night" on the last day of the week. On that night the kids could perform at the talent show. Some put on skits and dramas, some would do gymnastics, others would play an instrument, but a lot of them would sing a special song. There always seemed to be one girl who would want to sing Michael W. Smith's song, "Friends". Here is the chorus to help you remember the song:

"And friends are friends forever if the Lord's the Lord of them. And a friend will not say "never" cause the welcome will not end. Though it's hard to let you go in the Father's hands we know that a life time's not too long to live as friends." 

 Invariably, during the song all the girls would begin to cry. They would hug each other and then cry some more and through the tears they would begin to sing along with the girl who began the whole thing. They had made some really good friends during the week and they knew their moms and dads were coming to take them home the next day. They would be going back to different churches and schools. Many would not see each other until camp the next year. Over the years, whenever the Preacher and I hear this song, we moan a little and look at each other. We both know what the other is remembering – 7th and 8th grade girls sobbing.

Today as I sit here at my desk, I was thinking of a friend of mine who will be moving four hours from our church and our town. And guess what song popped into my head? – Friends are Friends Forever....!

Sometimes when you're the one moving the reality of it all doesn't hit you right away. There are so many things to do and think about. You experience a whirlwind of emotions. But when you're the one who is left behind you just think about how you will miss your friend who is leaving.

My friend playing piano during a worship service.

My friend and I have been friends for seven years. She began attending our church a year or so after moving to our little town. We seemed to hit it off right away. She began playing the piano for the worship team that I was a part of, and our friendship grew. Her oldest daughter is the same age as our son and they were a part of the youth group. They became good friends right away. They even went to prom together. My friend and her husband have had us in their home for dinners and we have had them over to our house.

Home-made Skyline Chili. In order to be authentic you have to serve it on an elongated plate
and with oyster crackers and a thin mint.

I remember the time when she had traveled to Cincinnati for work. There she discovered Skyline Chili, one of our favorite restaurants, so we had them over for home-made "Sky" chili. We knew she was the only one who would really appreciate it.

We have laughed together, cried together, shared stories and worried over our children together and we celebrated the birth of her youngest child together.

As we count down the days before her move, I'll be strong and continually pray for her and give her encouragement, but on that last day, the day of the move, who knows I might just be like one of those sobbing girls who sang the song, "Friends", all those years ago.

Love from the Preacher and I

When Your Dog Leaves Your Nest, It Truly Is An Empty Nest

A few days ago the Preacher and I invited a friend over to our house for lunch. During the meal our friend asked, "Where is your dog, where is Sergeant?"

I was surprised that he asked. We thought everyone knew that our son had taken Sergeant back to Texas after his Christmas break. 

For those of you who might not know that Sergeant has moved to Texas, I thought I would write just a little about missing our puppy, the Church Dog, and how empty our nest feels. (Click here to read more about how he became known as the Church Dog.)

First of all, I must also tell you that our son has changed his dog's name to Surge. He initially called him Sergeant because he was going to enlist in the Army and wanted his dog to reflect this life change. But, after being in the Army for a year and a half, he realized that he should not take a dog named Sergeant onto an Army base and proceed to shout out his dog's name in front of the actual Army Sergeants. 

The Preacher and I thought at first that we would enjoy the time away from Sergeant.  If you have a dog you know that it's a lot of work. You always have to be aware of the bathroom breaks. Then there are the vet bills. If you take your dog out on an excursion you have to make sure to bring along food, water, toys and poo bags. There's an extra cost if you have to stay in a hotel overnight. All the things that go along with pet ownership.

We had taken Sergeant every where that we went, not only to church, but on shopping trips, camping trips, dog friendly restaurants, every where we went so did he. Now when we go out we immediately remember our Sergeant being with us at certain shops or at certain restaurants. A little bit of sadness washes over us as we remember our Sarg.

On our back patio we have a little garden fountain where the Sergeant boy used to drink from after he played in our back yard. Yesterday we were getting our patio ready for the spring and summer months and when the Preacher plugged the fountain in I immediately remembered that crazy little dog drinking from it.

Little did we know just how much of a hold this little border collie had on our lives.  It's been a year and a half since our son left home and since then he has finished basic training, moved to a new base and was married. It has been only 3 months since our Sergeant has moved away. He is doing well in his new home in TX. I miss both of our boys. 

You think to yourself as your child is growing up that there will be a time when he will be self-sufficient and you think that will be a wonderful thing. More time for yourself. But when that day comes, when he leaves your house, you ache for the days of him needing you. And your nest feels even more empty when the realization hits you that he won't be dependent upon you. I guess the same can be said for a dog.

How can these little creatures get under our skin so much? 

The Preacher and I have considered getting a new puppy. We're going slow with the idea just in case Sergeant comes back. Also, have you seen the prices of a dog lately? That in itself is reason not to get one. I've thought of adopting too but then you are limited with the breeds that are available. This next season of dog ownership I would like a small dog, one that truly can be a lap dog.

For now though, the Preacher and I are truly empty nesters and we'll be okay.

Love from the Preacher and I

Mother's Are Allowed to Cry When You Say Good-Bye

The Preacher and I traveled to Galveston Island, Texas, a couple of weeks ago. Our son and our daughter-n-law came up from Killeen to stay with us for the week. 

We planned our trip for a couple of months, anxiously awaiting the day that we were to fly out. I was so excited to see the kids and to experience some place new. We searched for the best places to eat. We searched for the best touristy type of places to see. We searched for the best of what Galveston Island had to offer. We did them all, well at least we tried to take it all in.

The week went by so fast and before you know it we were saying good-bye.  

Every time I fly out to Indiana to visit with my family and my mother, at the end of my stay I will hug my mother good-bye and I will see that she will be crying. I ask her, "Why are you crying?" I will even scold her a little for crying. I will then tell her, "We'll talk on the phone soon and in no time I'll be back to visit again." 

Now I know. Now I know why she was crying! Even though I had told her I would call, she knew it wasn't the same. Even though I had told her I would visit again soon, she knew it wouldn't be soon enough. Now that our son is living away from us, I too know these truths.

On our trip, if I thought about it enough, even a few days before we left, tears would come to my eyes, knowing that I didn't have a lot of time left to be with the kids. On the last day I cried. I tried to hold it back, tried to not cry in front of our son, but on the ride back to the airport, I let it all out! I cried and cried!

Upon arriving back I couldn't think about coming back to the house, back to our routine lives. We stretched our stay out one more day. Both the Preacher and I were in a depressed mood. Just saying the kid's names in a conversation, would be enough to make me cry. A friend asked me if it was hard to get back to the everyday and of course, I said YES IT WAS!

It's been a couple of weeks now since our trip. We're better, but even now while writing this a tear began to come to my eyes. 

So the next time you visit your Mom and upon the day you are to leave and you see that she is welling up a little, let her! And be sure to cry right along with her. Those tears are nothing to be ashamed of. Those tears are her way of expressing her never ending love for you!

A few people have asked about our trip so I thought I would post some of our pictures.

The pier was across from our hotel. Jimmy's Restaurant was on the top of the pier and this was our first place to eat. We sat outside and watched the seagulls, the fishermen pull in their catches and watched the waves roll in. It was a great way to start our trip!

Surge! (Formally known as Sarge, the Church Dog) came along for vacation too! He was so excited to see us, and we were excited to see him.

I told you we searched out where the best places were to eat! Below, the first picture is of the Preacher eating oysters at the Black Pearl Oyster Bar in old downtown on Galveston Island. The second picture is at Pook's in Santa Fe, Texas. The guys ate 5 pounds of craw-fish all by themselves. And the thrid picture is a little place that had cool swings to sit in, picnic tables, and a really good food truck. The guys enjoyed playing corn-hole.

The next three pictures are all from old downtown and on the Pier.

We also took the ferry over to another island. It was so windy but we had a great time!

My Kids!

Love from the Preacher and I

Bible Journaling - Part Two

(Click here to read Part One)

I belong to a Facebook group called, Journaling Bible Community, and on that page I have read many a post where the person posted their pictures of journaling in their Bibles only to have someone comment something very mean about them writing and/or drawing in their Bible. Unfortunately this makes the person question what they are doing. Why would you question the way someone praises our Savior?

As far back as I can remember I've been taking notes in my Bible. I will write a thought I might have while hearing a sermon. I will write a corresponding scripture. I may write down a quote that relates to a particular scripture. I will write what I have discovered anew. And of course, I underline the scriptures.

In making these pieces of paper bound in a book cover more important than what is written on those pieces of paper, you have put your worship more in the book itself than Who it is that is being written about.

In the scripture where the woman poured expensive perfume upon Jesus' head (Matthew 26:6-11) the disciples were upset that she would waste the perfume and not sell it to feed the poor. Jesus asked them why they were bothering her and not seeing her worship. They held the money higher than her worship. There was worship, honor and praise in her action.

Sometimes you just want to express your love for the words that are God breathed. If someone is using their words, their thoughts, their creativity for the Lord, who are we to stop them? Remember that in Luke 19:40 Jesus said "If they keep quiet the stones will cry out!"

Maybe this is our way of letting our pencils and pens, our highlighters, our paints, and even our stickers, all the things we use in this creative process -- we let them all cry out in praise to the Lord.

So the next time you place a mark, an underline, a note, or even draw or paint a picture, remember this is your praise to the King of Kings!

The Bible that I use right now, the one that I take to church with me, used to belong to my mother-in-law. You can see in the picture below, that she too took notes in her Bible. She too praised her Lord through her notes and I love reading her thoughts.

I hope this helps anyone who has been nervous about Bible Journaling. Don't do it for others, do it for yourself!

Love from the Preacher and I

Bible Journaling - Part One

I was hoping to post something last week but among my usual work and house routine, I added the chore of getting our taxes ready. I think it took two days to get everything done. So needless to say, some things got put on the back burner.

This week I decided to keep it simple and post some of my latest Bible journaling. (If you missed my last post you can click HERE to see my other pages.) 

The Preacher is preaching a series of sermons on "I Am" where Jesus calls himself the I Am in 8 different passages in John. John 8:58

This is from one of the Preacher's sermons where Jesus says "I Am the Light". I loved the image of Jesus kneeling before the "woman caught in adultery". I found the image through Google images and tried to trace it but it didn't work out very well, so I had to fill in the places I couldn't see through my phone's light box app. John 8:1-30

This is from a sermon the Preacher did some time ago. This saying is a quote from the Preacher from that sermon. Again,some tracing done here. Luke 19:31-34

I found a version of this on Pinterest and decided I needed to include it in my Bible.Psalm 52:8 I didn't 'cheat' on this, I free-hand drew the tree.

This is a picture of my mother-in-law, Joan Smith. While going through some old photos, I found this picture of her petting a cow. Her dad had livestock on his farm, but I'm not sure if this was their cow or if she just stopped along a road just to pet this cow. I could see her doing just that.
I knew I wanted to use it in my Bible and knew exactly what verse to put it with. Psalm 50:16. I printed it on Avery's Clear Full Sheet Label, cut it to size and adhered it to the page after painting the page with acrylic paint.

I hope you have enjoyed looking at my pages. If you are interested in praising our Lord through this art form, you can find many more examples and how to's by looking at YouTube videos and checking on Pinterest.

Hopefully I will be able to post Part Two of this post next week. I'd like to comment about some of the negativity some have gotten over doing this art form in their Bibles.

So until next time...

...love from the Preacher and I

The Life of a Preacher Man

When you are the Pastor of a small town church you do not have an office full of staff ready to help you do all the things that need to be done. In most cases small town church pastors are on their own. They are more than just someone who preaches on Sunday morning. They are counselors. They perform marriages. They are the ones who are called in case the marriage is falling apart. They are the ones who get a call late at night asking for a ride home from the hospital because the person doesn't have a car. And they were the one who took that person to the hospital in the first place. They get called asking for help with gas or food.  

Just in case they are needed their cell phones are never shut off. They do not work a 9-5 job. There is no time clock. This can be a good thing and a bad thing. For example: when the Preacher was working as a Youth Minister, he worked under a Senior Pastor that insisted he be in the office by 9:00 am, take a lunch break for one hour, then back in the office until 5:00 pm. This was good because the Preacher was able to answer phone calls, prepare for Junior Church, youth outings, etc. It was a bad thing because he was not able to be out in the schools or the communities, getting to know the youth and their parents. 

There are moments when this life of ministry is great. Moments when the Preacher gets to witness someone come to know the Lord and he has the honor of baptizing them. Moments when he is the host of fundraisers and he sees money being raised to promote ministries. Moments when he counsels young couples wanting to get married and he gets to watch them grow in their love for each other. Then there are the times when he is asked to do a wedding and he discovers the wedding is taking place in the mountains and he not only witnesses their marriage but also the beauty surrounding him as he performs the ceremony. Moments when he watches a young man grow up in his youth group, goes on to college, and becomes a preacher. And then getting that call from that same young man thanking the preacher for all he did in this young man's life. 

Building relationships, leading people to Jesus, being an example, these are the reasons that the Preacher does what he does. It is not for fame, for the money, or for recognition. This is the life that my Preacher chose because he loves his Savior.

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" –Isaiah 6:8

Love from the Preacher and I