Undeserved.

Grace, mercy, blessing and abundance.

All undeserved.

I was once a punk kid, who didn't want anything to do with The King or His Words.

But the Spirit captured me, made me new, and put Spirit-filled men in my path.

All undeserved.

I left with $200 in hand, and a promise from a friend that he would be a strong arm of

support for me while in Vancouver.

All undeserved.

Blessings.

All undeserved.

2 weeks

I love the travel channel, especially Anthony Bourdain's: No Reservations.

He's a great story teller, capturing life from Laos to Ireland to Panama. I love how doesn't sanitize what he see's, but he portrays the raw beauty and utter despair every culture has.

Being able to experience the world through his eyes and the lens of that camera is nice, but it's like a stamp size picture of the ocean. There is no comparison, It just doesn't do it justice.

I'm missing out on the mystery, depth, flavors, smells, and textures that new worlds have to offer. As that gentle ache gets harder to ignore, I feel like a painter who's only able to use

a fraction of the color palate.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm going to miss the bayou and all those Cajuns.

But this world has too much culture and life to offer to let it pass by.

And I'm not missing out.

2 weeks. And we all can feel a calling.

To make this world a little smaller,

So a boy got on a plane.....

Everything is easy....

I fight, bite, and try my best to make the right decision and to be an honorable guy.

Often times I come to the end of my own endurance and little wisdom I own exhausted defeated and feeling like an ass.

I'm burnt out with logistics of missions and ministry and I can't even remember why I'm in it in the first place.

Then the spirit shows up, and reminds me of my first love.

I do it because of Hosanna, welcoming the King of Israel.

Then life settles, and things become clear.

Those choices that were heavy burdens upon my back?

They lift off like a feather in the passing breeze.

Then everything refocuses. Those blurred lines become crisp and easy to make sense of.

When your led by the spirit,

everything is easy.....

I gotta get back.... I just gotta

Ever seen the movie, "Book of Eli"?

Denzel Washington's character is on a mission, mostly shrouded in mystery for the first half of the movie. It revolves around a decimated post-apocalyptic America and a book. But not just any book, it's The Book.

And an unquenchable desire to head west, to complete his mission.

I'll leave it at that because I hate spoilers, just remember he dies at the end (bet you didn't see that coming).

So I kinda feel like Denzel's character.

My mission?

To head back east, to reconnect with the rich history of my people.

Along the way, being a voice for those who are silenced by fear and oppression....

and telling the greatest story ever told; the story of redemption, rescue, and restoration found

in a book. But not just any book, The Book.

See, I gotta get back.... and Vancouver is my first step.

This city has the highest concentrations of ethnic Chinese residents in North America.

So to get back east, to the west I must go.

So how do I be content in every situation, as the good Book says, when I'm not satisfied with where I am?

I guess it's the pursuit of "the peace that surpasses all understanding" that leaves me restless....

Not for all the tea in China.

I gassed up the car Friday afternoon and drove. And drove. Picked up my friend Michelle Palmer and drove some more. 5 long hours later, we arrived in West Monroe (the armpit of Louisiana). Just in time to check the first item off my bucket list: Attend an Andrew Osenga Concert.

The cramps in my legs and lowerback seemed to melt away as Andrew made sweet sweet love to his guitar.
And everyone there in that "too big of a room for such a small crowd" witnessed it.
For the next hour his humility, his passion, his anger, his brokenness and his redemption were laid bare for us to see.
It was like he was cooking and the penetrating smell of emotion filled the room.
Everyone wanted a taste of it.

It was memorizing, inspiring, and oh so satisfying.
I PR that the rest of the bucketlist will be just the same.

Was it worth the drive? Yes. Worth the cramps? Yes. Worth the sleepless drive back? Yes.
Would I ever trade the experience? Not for all the tea in China.


awesome moment in time

New-City Nervous

For those who don't know, I'll be leading students on a 2-week mission
experience in Vancouver in May.
It's all about S led friendship building and life on life J sharing.
And lots of PRwalking.
When I think about this great task ahead, I get a little nervous.

These students are trusting me to lead them in a city I barely know, connect with a people I've never met, and relate to a culture I know little of.

They need me to take the lead in this big city, but I'm pretty clueless on how to really do it.
All I have is a few short months of mission experience, but is that really enough?
Then I remember, it's the spirit that has carried you to this point, and it's his S that will see you through. It's not about my competency or how well I do.
It's about who I'm owned and operated by. And that's the Father.

This week I have an opportunity to do great things. Because my Father is great.

Fast forward

Well, one more month then it's graduation and off to Vancouver.
What have I been upto lately?

Well here's my to do list this week:


and that's only scratching the surface.

I've been plugging along all this year, at it's all been really great.
Ministry has been joyfilled and life-altering, Saints winning the Superbowl, and graduation is right around the corner. It's all been deeply satisfying and will probably go down as my favorite year at NSUEY.

But to be honest, I'm feeling a little tired. A little weary from the journey.
Emotionally spent, if you will.
I need to be refreshed, renewed, and poured into.

I need to spend time with people who I want to be around, true friends.
Rather than those that I have to be around.

I want to be around those who have a heart for the nations that I do.
Because I need to be reminded of how big G is and how he reaches out to the middle east, Middle Kingdom, NK, and Afreeka.

I hope that times comes before I lead this team, because He knows how much I need it.