French Pizza!

Did you know that Southeastern France was part of Italy until 150 years ago? In Nice there are great pizza places and Italian restaurants all over the place. And another interesting cultural thing that people sometimes gripe about (but I think it's really cool), is that most businesses close for a couple hours in the mid afternoon. They take the time to smell the roses over there.

I can hardly wait to be back there and make a thousand new friends! I'm serious.

Pride, the Biggie!

The main thing I got out of C.S. Lewis' great book 'Mere Christianity' is that pride is at the root of ALL our sin. I think about that a lot. Prideful behavior is marked by a condescending attitude of arrogance; a lack of humility right? But what about all of us who tend to be paralyzed by insecurities? By the grace of God I begin to clearly see that all my insecurities are rooted in pride issues. The guy who constantly beats himself up is no more about humility from a pure heart than the haughty guy is. The repulsively insecure person can't love their neighbor very well because they have a fear of man; an obsession over the approval of man. It becomes so tiresome to live as a slave to pride and more importantly it dishonors God.

The truly international language

What a great blessing straight from God to be able to praise and worship Him through the gift of music! When I visited Nice last month I was really able to hit the ground running by joining in with the music ministry at both the church in St. Paul and the evening service in Nice. I have some great new French musician friends with whom I already feel a strong bond through both the musical connection (truly the international language) and through the strongest connection of all; fellow members of the body of Christ! It's absolutely amazing (miraculous) how the Lord can use even a regular guy like me.

God is a gentleman

God is a gentleman in that He won't force Himself on anybody. I hope and pray to take a cue from Him and not sound too preachy, holier than thou, or like I have it all completely figured out because I most certainly don't. Who am I to think that I'm better than anyone. I'm not and if I ever come off that way please tell me about it in no uncertain terms. If you cross paths with someone who claims to have perfect complete knowledge, run!

I just want to strive to love anyone and everyone who crosses my path and to communicate (mainly through loving actions) to everyone I've ever known that beautiful, transformative change is possible in Christ.

the word's getting out!

This is starting to get really exciting! Things are coming together all by the Grace of God. On my own I'm pretty much just a terrified child. But with the Lord all things truly are possible. As I've been saying lately, this whole process of raising support, moving to France, being a missionary!!!?, it's nothing I could do or would do by leaning on my own understanding. This is all about supernatural love; God's love for us and the miracle of Him allowing us to learn how to love Jesus and serve Him by loving our fellow man. I believe that!

Sound unbelievable? Please humbly reconsider Jesus.

"The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."

The apostle Paul to Timothy, his true child in the faith.

I Timothy 1:5

I'm truly blessed by my friend Clint who has a unique perspective on life, Christ, creativity, killer technical applications, and is an all around wonderful encourager to me and all who cross his path.

The gift of life is so beautifully rich and full of deep, Christ-like magic we can all enjoy if only we begin to get past all our fears and let go of all the heavy baggage that burdens us and keeps us from being more fully in Christ and Christ in us. And I believe we can make this kind of progress spiritually, emotionally, physically, only by dying to self and living for Him.

Does this sound corny to you? Please humbly reconsider.