Half Century Mark

Yesterday I celebrated my 50th birthday here at Fort Riley, Kansas. I missed my wife & kids very much, as always, & longed to be with them. I am thankful, however, that I have a friend here and I was able to enjoy a wonderful day. It started with Church, then a round of golf, and then a cook out. It ended with me seeing & speaking to my family thanks to Skype (web cam). While it was not as nice as being able to hug them it certainly was better than nothing. Thank God for technology.

Yesterday's sermon was from Acts 3:1-10. It was delivered beautifully by the Division Chaplain who was obviously anointed to deliver this particular message. The scripture tells of the crippled man who was placed at the temple gates, called Beautiful, where he was carried everyday in order to beg for money. When the man sees Peter & John coming he ask them for money. Peter looks at the man dead in the eye and says "look at us" as to say "do we look like we have money". I love what Peter then offers the man. "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."

Lately my biggest prayer has been that God would fill me overflowing with His Holy Spirit and to give me His authority to minister to His people. This sermon answered a question that often nags at me & sometimes keeps me from being who God wants me to be. What do I have to offer? I have little money, little talent, and I am getting old, or older. What do I have of value that I can pass on? We, Christians, have the most valuable gift of all & one we received free of charge. We have the Holy Spirit residing in us and the ability to share Him with others.

I am working with a bunch of young men who don't have much in terms of material wealth, but what they have, their very lives, they are willing to risk for their country & you. I miss my family very much, but I have to remind myself that there are young Sergeants here who have deployed several times, each time leaving their family for you, me and even those who don't support what they do. Perhaps we can share God's gift with them.

I am thankful for these young American heroes and grateful for a home church that is willing to support these young men in prayer while they are deployed. Nags Head Church, led by Pastor Rick Lawrenson, will be teaming up with the Big Red One, 1st Battalion, 63rd CAB in our mission to free Iraq & her citizens from the fear of terrorism.

Thank you Nags Head Church family. I know I didn't speak much of my birthday, but as we like to say "it's not about me". Besides, the most important birthday is our spiritual birthday which I share with Nancy, April 1993. Evan accepted Christ & was born again in 2002 & Emily in June of this year. I rejoice in the knowledge that my family is heaven bound. We are not perfect and will never be, but we have been redeemed by the perfect Lamb, my Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.
Because of what He did, my day was blessed.