Leavin’ On A Jet Plane…

I leave Friday for Bulgaria and Greece. We fly Lufthansa from Atlanta to Frankfurt and from Frankfurt to Sofia, Bulgaria. We’ll be in Bulgaria for approximately 3 days before heading to Thessaloniki.

Please keep the team in your prayers!

Take a Firm Stand

“So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught…May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17 The Message

I think this can be said of anyone ever born on this earth, but life doesn?t come easy for me. Neither does Life. I know, you?re asking, huh? Considering only our flesh, we struggle against responsibility, career, finances, government, even traffic on a day-to-day basis. But that struggle is not the true battle. ?Life? on the other hand, is a gift given freely to us through the mercy of the Cross, yet sometimes we as Christians fight so hard against the true source of Life, help, confidence, etc. We?re in a massive spiritual war, fighting against darkness and evil (The Bible says so!) I have suffered from severe self-esteem issues for many years…I?ve sought various forms of approval, acceptance and acknowledgement from many worldly sources whether person or object. Yet, God is my true Father. He loves me because HE made me. To break it down Georgia-boy style, God don?t make no junk! Where do you seek your fulfillment or confidence? I?ve taken the wrong turn so many times yet, God continues to walk down the straight path, telling me that His yoke or His way is easy, the burden is light.

Seek your fulfillment in Him, seek your confidence and self-assurance in Him. Your earthly father may have been a great or terrible, but there is only one true Father that loves you unconditionally.

As a side note to fathers, there is no more important relationship your children can have than with their fathers. You are to be their earthly picture of the heavenly Father. I never understood this fully until I became a father myself. I struggle day-to-day to be the Father my son and daughter need me to be. I cannot imagine loving anyone more, yet the heavenly Father loves them even more…and He loves YOU even more than your earthly father possibly could. Try to fathom that…a loving hug or pat on the back from your Dad…That?s what God offers you constantly, without fail or fatigue. He is ever present, ever faithful…I don?t know about you, but that is an amazing comfort and relief.

Following the Simple Way abroad

On May 23rd, myself and 18 other team members from Christ Community Church will fly to Thessaloniki, Greece to work with Mike & Maria Long (blog) in their mission field there. We will be doing construction and repair of their property they use for a ministry center in Thessaloniki. Most importantly, we will be surrounded by Greeks, Albanians and Bulgarians constantly…numerous opportunities to share God’s love by simple interaction with our fellow man.

Later in the week, we will journey to Bulgaria to work with the Roma gypsies. Bulgaria has a huge gypsy population who are historically one of the most persecuted, downtrodden and impoverished ethnic groups in the world. Ethnic persecution is still common in the former Communist country of Bulgaria. We will be working with a gypsy population of approximately 10,000, providing humanitarian aid. My friend Pastor Bill Shorey will also have the opportunity to speak to the church of 800 there.

I’ll admit, I have some trepidation about the upcoming trip. I’ve never been on a missions trip, let alone to the European continent. I have serious misgivings about leaving my wife and children for 8 days, but I know God called me to go on this trip and serve as His vessel and that any doubts or fears are the work of Satan, not my Lord. Please pray for me from May 23rd to June 1st, that I may be a loving witness of the saving power of Jesus. Pray that I am able to share the Gospel merely through my the love and friendship I can offer the people I interact with. Pray for my wife and children, that they will be safe and sound.

I may take my MacBook with me to blog while I’m there, but I haven’t decided. Watch this blog for more updates.