If My People

I ask anyone reading this to pray one minute each day this week for our broken world. With all the shootings, hate, political chaos...it would be easy to give up believing God can heal our nation(s). I want to remind us today of this timely scripture.

"12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." Ephesians 6:12-13

Paul is telling us that human weapons are no match. We are not fighting a human battle. We are fighting spiritual forces beyond our awareness. But we have a relationship with the one who has already defeated darkness, hate, and brokenness. Jesus Christ is our Savior.

In the Bible, we see Jesus bring tenacious love, supernatural peace, inexplicable hope, and undeserved freedom to those lost in the darkness. This is how we must fight. These are the weapons we must wield to restore this broken world. We are called to be world changers, culture changers, community changers. As believers, we must step into the chaos and speak peace, love, and hope.

As a team, we give, pray, and go so that university students in Ireland would know Christ. Today, we stand together in prayer. We pray for the terror to cease, the hate to dissipate, the fear to vanish. We pray for believers around the world to courageously rise up within their communities. We pray for the Church to rise up, repent, and believe God to heal our nations. 

Eden is 3

It's hard to believe that three years ago Eden James came into this world. Yesterday we had many of Eden's friends over. There was a bouncy castle, cake, presents, snacks, more presents, and so much laughter. My mom was in town to join in and help pull it all off. We even had sunny weather!

It was a perfect day to celebrate. What hit me the most this weekend is that Eden is the one who made me a father. Before he came into this world, I was a friend, husband, son, brother, relative...but the second he arrived I became a dad. I am constantly reminded of words a friend said to me regarding his son. "He will be my greatest disciple." Amazing. I pray, above any other ministry/work accomplished in my life, that Eden and Eli would be my greatest disciples. I will work tirelessly to help them encounter Christ daily and to know Jesus personally. 

The privilege, honour, responsibility, fear, exhaustion, and intimidation that comes with being a dad is FAR outweighed by the joy a child brings. Katy and I are so blessed to raise our two boys. May we be parents that constantly point our children to Jesus.

Thanks to all of you who pray and give so we can minister in Ireland. Your prayers are the fuel that keeps us going. I want to say a special thanks for those who pray for our kids. They mean far more to us than our ministry. It is so humbling to know we have a team of people behind our family. 

Thank you.

Happy Fourth of July

Today, the fourth of July, Americans celebrate a huge success. This is the day we celebrate our freedom as a nation.

Our Declaration of Independence states, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." 

We have been far from perfect as a nation. Greed and corruption will inevitably seep in to any form of government as long as humans are involved, therefore none are perfect. However, I'm proud to be an American. Today I celebrate the many great things our nation has done for its citizens and for other nations around the world. I feel blessed to be from the U.S.A.

But, more than that, I celebrate my freedom in Christ. My citizenship in the Kingdom of God supersedes my American citizenship. I have been made free in Christ...and that is true freedom. 

As much as we might pursue happiness, we will never find it living apart from our creator. God formed us in the womb. He has a specific plan and purpose for us. It is only in that purpose, in that plan, that we will find abundant life, liberty, and joy in Christ.

No president, king, dictator, or emperor has the power to bestow that kind of freedom. Kings and kingdoms will come and go. But the Kingdom of God will stand for eternity, offering free citizenship to all who would come.

I'm proud to be an American, but I would be NOTHING without my relationship with Christ. No matter what nationality, ethnicity, or political persuasion...we can all celebrate our freedom today. Freedom in Christ.

Happy Fourth of July everyone! Happy freedom day.