It is so hard for be to believe this, but it’s true. 20% of the children in the county we live in, live in poverty. So what are we doing about it? As a church one of the things we did this year was called the Jerusalem project. This month specifically we adopted 3 local families from our community and we gave them a lot of great gifts. Melissa and I went shopping on Saturday for these children and it means so much to us to be able to do this for these families. We also gave Southwest Iowa Families some thank you cards and a check for $500 to bless them and all they do to try to see families thrive in our community. We are so glad to be able to partner with them in their goal to strengthen families and teach them life skills as well as so many other things.
People are different. People do things in different ways. I am not telling you anything new, but what I do find interesting is that we all know everyone is different and has different experiences, yet we somehow think they should act or live just like us. Now, why wouldn’t we want people to live just like us (speaking generally, not about me)? If we are all honest, I think we all think we are doing it the right way, and for the most part everyone else is doing it wrong. Not in all cases, but in a lot of cases. The reason why we believe this is because we have always done it this way. We all have traditions and ways of doing things that no one else does and that makes us unique. Now I am all for doing personal and unique things with your family. I do think as a family you should have your own family traditions. We all have differences. So what do we do with them? Do we have to change for everyone else? Does everyone else have to change for us? What if the answer is neither? What if we just be who we are and we do our best to do the right things for us. What is right for one family may not be right for another. Now, I will say we all have areas we can grow in, but sometimes we have to worry less about what people or families or others may say about us or think about us and live our lives. Now, use godly wisdom and seek his direction. Pray in all things, but all in all, be you.
Over the past couple days it has been interesting to see how people have reacted to this snow storm. A couple of days ago before the storm came many people talked about how they loved snow and were excited that it was coming. I am a lover of the snow as well so I joined in with them. After the 14 or so inches of snow we got along with the huge drifts from the wind blowing up to 25 mph’s, many people have begun to complain. In just two days they went from I can’t wait, the snow is so beautiful to yuck, I just wish it would go away.
This is my 600th post. I can’t believe I have posted that many blogs. It has truly been a journey. Sometimes I look at this as a journal. It’s a way for me to share what is on my heart and to just vent. I know I have done my share of both and I am glad anyone reads it at this point. I like to look back over previous blogs and see how my life has changed in the past 3 years. Let’s see, new church, new wife (not that I had an old one) and now a baby girl. So much has changed and I have been able to share it with people in a lot of different places. I love using my blog to connect with people, encourage people and occasionally to share my humor.
Today we talked about repentance. Repentance is more than just saying you are sorry. I talked about why we need to repent and why we don’t repent. I felt like God was pointing us towards getting things right with Him as we enter into this time. Listen to the message here.

Today I am finding myself trusting in the Lord more than ever. The reason I have this trust is because He has proven Himself faithful in all things. This year has had it’s ups and downs and it has been great at times and it has been very difficult at times, but at the end of the day I lay my head on my pillow with trust that the Lord is at work. Too many times when we go through things people buckle under the pressure. They give up. They give in. I have been there and I have done that many times. Luckily for me God is gracious and kind to me. He has proven Himself to me time and time again. Not just this year, but over my life even when I didn’t love Him.
As some of you have seen on my Twitter account I have not been feeling great the past couple days. I went to the dr. this morning and he thinks it is something viral. I am praying that he is right. He gave me some pills to take for the next couple days and if they work, they it will be ok, if not, I have to go back on Friday afternoon and get some x-rays. Please pray with me that it’s the viral thing and the medicine takes care of it.
From time to time I will talk about my family on my blog and today I am going to talk about my wife. Some people don’t know that my wife left a paid ministry position to come to be my wife (which is not a paid position). She had been very involved in her church and youth for several years and she left all that to come down to Clarinda. She is very involved in our church in many ways. She helps in so many areas, and most of them are behind the scene things that no one sees except for God and occasionally myself. She is the vision behind all of our Christmas decorations and set up and and how wonderful our sanctuary looks. She loves to decorate and be creative even when it comes to wrapping silverware for things we do. She does so much at our church. She does it for God and because she wants to see God do great things at our church. I could not do what I am able to do down here without her. She has been such an amazing ministry partner. I would not want to be on this adventure with anyone else. The good thing is that even if people in church forget to, or I forget to acknowledge all of the wonderful things that she does, God sees them and He will reward her for everything one day. I wish I could be there on that day because the reward will be great and deserved. I haven’t even started to talk about how great of a job she does at home with Alora and in being married to me. I am blessed.
Everyone is going to go through highs and lows. Everyone is going to have great things happen in their lives. Everyone is going to have horrible things happen in their lives. What I have noticed is two responses.
As most of you know I went to Dallas last Friday through Sunday. Here is a quick recap of my trip. Friday morning we left at 6 and drove till 4. We got to Dallas and then we got all showered up and went to the Dallas Mavericks game. After the game we drove around to places, my favorite was the grassy knoll and the exact street JFK drove down when he was assassinated. (not that he was assassinated, but I drove down a street that has so much history) Saturday we got up and watched the Hawkeyes go 10-2. Then we drove around Dallas for a while. I went to Fellowship Church (Ed Young). Then we went to chapel with the Cowboys. It was awesome to sit in the same room as some of the coaches and players. I also met a pastor friend of the guy we stayed with who was really cool. Sunday we got up and went to the Dallas game. It was a boring game, the total was 7-6, but they won. Then we drove back and arrived home around 3:30 a.m. It was a great trip. I posted some pictures on my blog yesterday and on my facebook account. Check them out here.