Back in my day...

So, I'm not going to do what the title suggests and start a yawn fest that all starts in downtown Kansas City, Kansas in 1967.  I'm going to do what my dear brother-in-law suggested Friday night and post something from how this whole thing got started...

As some of you may know, I joined Crest Bible Church (in Turner Kansas) in 2002 shortly after a personal nuclear explosion happened that left me with a heart shattered into a million pieces and coming to that place where Jesus was all I had.  The good news about being rocked to the core like that is that you realize Jesus is all you need and the rebuilding process begins...

I called a friend who first shared the gospel with me and asked "Brad, where do you go to church?"  He said "Crest Bible Church".  I found them and went.  My brother-in-law was there to catch me and guide me with a decipleship program, but he trusted the same Lord as me to allow Him to guide me to a good church.

Well, things started happening.  Seems that every Sunday sermon for the next few months were just for me.  I met my wife of almost 14 years now at Crest.  We blended a family of 8 children with our marriage in 2003 and for the next 5 years, that was our only focus.  In 2008 after hearing yet another trip report from people returning from Belize with lives changed and eyes opened, my wife and I separately began to pray that God would make a way for us to go.  In 2008 when the economy was in the tank and Trillions of dollars was being stolen from people's 401k and home values, layoffs were everywhere God gave us increases in pay and vacation to match.

So, November 2009 we are dropped off in a village of 600 people in Belize (Trinidad) to stay with a pastor, his wife and their 5 year old son.  It didn't take long before we were wondering "what the heck have I got myself into".  By the end of the 9 day stay, we are a complete mess, crying and wishing we could stay.

Herramienta! (Tool) My first Spanish word
The soccer ball is a tool to share the gospel
Gold = Heaven - Black = Sin - Red = Jesus' Blood - White = sins washed clean
Green = Grow

Mark 16:15 says "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."  This passage is simple and meant for all who come to the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  I've heard it said that when someone humbles themselves in repentance and The Lord takes up residence, they become an evangelist.  Immediately, telling people in their home, their neighborhood, their workplace, their community and since God loves to bless you with more than you could ask for, he just might make a way for you to tell someone in a different culture.  I wouldn't wish for anyone to come to that place like the "nuclear explosion place" I had to to come to in order to give repentance.  But, the facts are the facts.  The first time I ever shared in the church from the pulpit was behind a Belizian pulpit.  The first time I ever spoke about what God has done in my life in my home church back home, was when I came back.  The passage above comes without detail, but I guarantee you, when you go unto the world to share the gospel, wherever that world is (home, neighborhood, work / school), you are going to love the ride GOing there.

Where do you start?

As the title suggests, I'm not exactly sure where to start.  I know that I need to start sometime to get into the rhythm of documenting everything that I feel is relevant to share with all who might be reading this blog.  There was a time (insert the theme song here Mr. Dotte) that a day didn't go by that I didn't check the blog of a man who sold everything, packed up and moved to northern Belize.  What a blogging inspiration Dave Rider is to me.  That being said, I feel like I'm on the blogging court with Michael Jordan, Believe me, I want to produce quality posts that interest the readers and at the same time share this new phase of our lives.

I believe in giving credit where credit is due.  First and foremost, I thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for looking upon a wretch like me and yet still willing to die on a cross for me so I can one day come to the place of repentance, and actually KNOW him. 

I thank my wife, Amy, for going out for ice cream with me on June 9, 2002.  She has been a wonderful testimony of redemption and true contentment.  I thank her for being willing to get on this ride with me (I will playfully refer to as the Belize-O-rama).  We do have a lot of fun together, it's so wonderful when that "one thing" you share with your mate is your love of Jesus Christ.

I thank my kids for being supportive, my family, and my co-workers.

Well, this is the first official post of this blog.  They say it takes 21 days or more to change a behavior, I will try to make this thing as interesting as possible over the next few months as the journey unfolds.

Psalm 119:105 says "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."  This passage tells me that the 3-5 foot diameter of light that the lamp will illuminate on an unknown path only moves down the path when I do.  I look forward to seeing what's down this path, but without my light, I will stumble and fall.  Who would want to go down a new path completely in the dark without a light?