Hey Friends,
I know it has been a long time since my last blog...about 5 months...and I apologies for that. The past 5 months have been a blur. Things have been so busy that I have hardly had time to think. Over the next few weeks I hope to catch you up on what has been happening in my life and ministry. I am just now at a point where I feel I have begun to digest all that I seen and done. I hope that as you read, you gain a small understanding of the awesomeness of God and how He has been at work in my life.
So what I am going to do is start at the end and tell you where I am right now; then I will go back and share the story of how God has brought me to this point. Enjoy!
Today, Sept. 2, 2008 I am an evacuee from New Orleans who is very thankful that God kept the city safe during hurricane Gustav. I left home on Sunday morning at 1:00 am and spent 14 1/2 hours sitting in traffic until I finally made it here. Where is here? I am currently sitting in AIM's Skelton Road office in Gainesville, Ga. I will be spending time with my good friends and partners in ministry; the wonderful people at AIM, as well as catching up on some reading, and playing a little guitar.
Well that is pretty much it. Now that you know where I am, I'm gonna take the next couple weeks to tell you how I got here. I hope you will come back and hear my story. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to share. Thanks for bearing with my during my absence, I will try to do better. Until next time God Bless!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
For Travis...
This one id dedicated to my buddy Travis, hope you enjoy it!
click on the link to check it out:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MR5xv3pt7KI
click on the link to check it out:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MR5xv3pt7KI
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Let Go
Today my pastor's sermon I think was for me. It was from Mark 8...the passage where Jesus calls His disciples to die to self and live for God. The sermon was entitled "Playing God", and wow have I tried to do that in areas of my life. He talked about how our sin nature forces us to "hang on" to things to tightly and desire to control certain areas of our lives. We do this out of fear. We are worried about what might happen if we really turn this little part of our lives over to God. Maybe we wont get the "things" we have always wanted; maybe our life wont be all the WE think it should be.
As he was speaking, it was God uttering the words! Don't get me worng, I want to live for God...it is the only way to live. It is just small things that I often hang onto because I want some control. But the tighter we hold on, the more we squeeze the life out of ourselves. I have so many dreams, so many things that I want to achieve, but the more I seek these things, the more I waste of my own life. It takes giving up everything and letting God take control that brings real life.
Maybe I'm not the only one who struggles with this, in fact, I bet I'm not. If you find yourself in this position let me remind you of this; we were made for God's glory, and if we are seeking our own, how will we ever reach our potential as God's creation?
Real freedom is not being your own master; that is way too frustrating...Real freedom is letting God be your master and living for Him alone. Let Him take care of the details, and then you will really know what it means to live. It all comes down to one simple question...are we willing to let go?
As he was speaking, it was God uttering the words! Don't get me worng, I want to live for God...it is the only way to live. It is just small things that I often hang onto because I want some control. But the tighter we hold on, the more we squeeze the life out of ourselves. I have so many dreams, so many things that I want to achieve, but the more I seek these things, the more I waste of my own life. It takes giving up everything and letting God take control that brings real life.
Maybe I'm not the only one who struggles with this, in fact, I bet I'm not. If you find yourself in this position let me remind you of this; we were made for God's glory, and if we are seeking our own, how will we ever reach our potential as God's creation?
Real freedom is not being your own master; that is way too frustrating...Real freedom is letting God be your master and living for Him alone. Let Him take care of the details, and then you will really know what it means to live. It all comes down to one simple question...are we willing to let go?
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Angels Among Us
Sorry for the delay y'all. It is sometimes hard to find time on these AIM trips to sit down and type up a detailed blog; and internet is hard to get at "The Gateway" (AIM's Base in Mexico). But I wanted to share a total "God Story" with you. It is a little long, but it is good!
It all started about 1:00 pm last Saturday (March 15). I arrived at the airport in Charlotte, NC, and I was ready to start my trip to Mexico with a short, hour and a half long flight to Houston, TX. I boreded the plan and everything seemed to be working out great. The flight was packed so getting my guitar on the plane was tough. There was no room in the overhead compartments on the small jet I was on for the flight, but there was 1 empty seat...right beside me. So I was able to keep my guitar beside me the entire trip.
Everything was running smoothly till I looked out the window just before we were to take off and I noticed the rain had started. There were major storms coming from the South and I was praying they wouldn't hinder our flight. We sat on the runway for several minutes and then the pilot informed us that flight control had changed our Flight Plan and added an extra 300 miles to our trip in order to avoid the storm. No big deal right? Wrong! Our plane did not have enough fuel for the extended trip, so we had to taxi back to the ramp and wait for a fuel truck. One problem posed itself...by the time we reached the ramp, the storms had reached us. Heavy rain, heavy wind and LOTS of lightning. This ment no fuel truck. So we waited for a total of 3 hours before the fuel truck finally was able to give us the fuel we needed. We finally were able to take off and we were headed for Houston.
But misery loves company I guess, the "small" delay in Charlotte posed a problem for me...I took off from Charlotte about the same time that I was originally scheduled to leave Houston. So I called the airline company and notified them of the situation. The put me on standby for the last flight out of Houston heading to Harlingen, TX (my final destination). So upon arriving in Houston, I race to my terminal and head straight for the ticket counter. I give the lady there my information, and fortunately she is able to get me a seat on the plane due to a cancelation. I this point, I begin to relax a little, because I know I am going to make it to Matamoros, Mexico the same night and not be stuck sleeping in George Bush International Airport in Houston, TX.
Well about an hour or so later, we begin boarding the plane. I had seat 2A which is a Window/Aisle seat in the front of the little "puddle jumper" that I would be flying on. Knowing this, I waited till basically last to board. The plane is tiny, so I know I am going to have to Gate Check my guitar, because it won't fit on the plane...this didn't thrill me at all. And adding insult to injury, as I started to board, a lady at the counter handed me a gate check pass and I took it from her. I turned and asked her if there was any way I could get it on board. I tried to explain to her that the pressure changes and temp. changes damage my guitar. She was quite the smart-alic and her reply was something to the effect of "well maybe next time you will just buy a second seat for your precious guitar". As you can imagine, I was not happy. I had already had a long day; I didn't need lip from a lady at the airport who thought she would be funny.
So I walked out or the gate and headed for the plane. I put my guitar on the gate check cart and started up the steps to board the plane. As I reached the top the Flight Attendant greeted me and ask how I was doing. I replied "I am doing ok, but I'd be doing a lot better if I could get my guitar on the plane with me". I was basically venting to this flight attendant because I was frustrated, but I tried to do it with a smile. She told me that she understood my frustration and would see what she could do about getting it onboard. Of course, this excited me. I sat down and a few minutes passed by. She continued working and helping other passengers...specifically the ones who seemed to be unable to put carry-on in the overhead compartments and the ones who couldn't open the bathroom door. I found this rather ammusing because I knew at least someone else on the plane was sharing in my frustration with that evening's flight.
A few minutes passed and she walked up and told me to go get my guitar and move to seat 6b. She had gotten a gentleman to switch seats with me because he had an empty seat beside me. So I ran out and got my guitar and buckled it in beside me. Then I noticed more passengers coming on board. They were sending "standby" passengers down to the plane. The flight attendant came back by and told me to "hang on" cause I may have to take the guitar back outside. Well a few minutes passed and the people stopped coming on board. She came by and told me it was "my lucky day". The people inside had miscounted and sent 49 passengers down to the plane...the problem was, there were 50 seats. She assured me that "she wasn't going to alert them of the mistake". So My guitar was on the plane for good. I was elated. I thanked her repeatedly and told her how much it ment to me that she did that for me; especially after the day I had been through. I mean, talk about personal service. It was a wonderful flight and I made it to the Gateway before Mid-night. As I went to bed that night, I thanked God for the blessing of a caring flight attendant and a safe guitar.
It was such a great way to kick off a great week of ministry. The trip was wonderful and I saw God do some pretty cool stuff. The week ended and I said goodbye to the particpants and prepared to catch a flight back to Houston, TX then onto New Orleans, LA. I remember thinking as I packed; I sure hope I get a great flight attendant for this flight as well.
I was again on a tiny puddle jumper and just knew my guitar was going to have to be gate checked. But I was a little happier than I was preparing for the flight a week before. I mean God had blessed me once so I couldn't complain. I arrived at the airport with a father and daughter who had been on the trip that week. They had decided to skip out on the 20 hour bus ride back to Birmingham, AL. Their flight left about 45 minutes after mine, so we killed some time at a restuarant in the airport. We got to talking and I lost track of time. I heard an announcement about boarding for my flight, so I knew I needed to hurry and get through security. I told them by and hurried to security. I was in a rush so I wasn't really paying much attention to what was going on; I just rushed to get my stuff through. As I was gather my stuff up on the other side of the security check-point, I looked behind me and saw a flight attendant. I took a double take because I thought I was seeing things...then I just started to laugh...it was the same flight attendant from my flight a week before. She hadn't noticed me yet...she was focused on "just getting through security". I tried to get her attention by saying "what are the odds" and it worked...she looked up and took a double take as well. We both laughed as we continued gathering up our things. I opened up my guitar case and quickly detuned my guitar...saying to her "I doubt I'll get lucky 2 flights in a row" she laughed and responed "well, we'll see what we can do. We walked to the gate and talked the whole way there. I told her why I had been in Mexico and how the week had been great. When we reached the gate, she proceeded onto the plane and I waited for boarding to start. A few minutes later I see her wal out of the gate and motion for me...she told me that the flight only had 46 passengers and she was having the ticket lady switch my seat so that I could have an open seat beside me for my guitar.
I was in shock! I mean, I couldn't believe it. Agian, the wonderful flight attendant had taken time to take care of me personally. As we approached Houston on the flight, she walked back and we chatted for a few minutes. I thanked her again and told her how much of a blessing she had been. She asked me about my music and we talked about other things. She then informed me that she was a Chrisitan and that she had been excited to hear that I was too. Yet another wow moment.
I mean, the whole thing was like a movie...it was just too good to be true...haha. Just goes to show you how the little things make a huge impact on people's lives. Katie (the flight attendant) blessed me in a HUGE way just by simply caring about a passenger she had never met. I wonder how many people I can bless just back taking a few minutes out of my day to show them I care.
Looking back on the whole thing, I still say WOW! I'm not convinced that my Katie wasn't an angel sent just to remind me that God is in control of everything...even the little things. I may never know for sure...but then again, she did have a set if wings (pinned to her uniform that is).
It all started about 1:00 pm last Saturday (March 15). I arrived at the airport in Charlotte, NC, and I was ready to start my trip to Mexico with a short, hour and a half long flight to Houston, TX. I boreded the plan and everything seemed to be working out great. The flight was packed so getting my guitar on the plane was tough. There was no room in the overhead compartments on the small jet I was on for the flight, but there was 1 empty seat...right beside me. So I was able to keep my guitar beside me the entire trip.
Everything was running smoothly till I looked out the window just before we were to take off and I noticed the rain had started. There were major storms coming from the South and I was praying they wouldn't hinder our flight. We sat on the runway for several minutes and then the pilot informed us that flight control had changed our Flight Plan and added an extra 300 miles to our trip in order to avoid the storm. No big deal right? Wrong! Our plane did not have enough fuel for the extended trip, so we had to taxi back to the ramp and wait for a fuel truck. One problem posed itself...by the time we reached the ramp, the storms had reached us. Heavy rain, heavy wind and LOTS of lightning. This ment no fuel truck. So we waited for a total of 3 hours before the fuel truck finally was able to give us the fuel we needed. We finally were able to take off and we were headed for Houston.
But misery loves company I guess, the "small" delay in Charlotte posed a problem for me...I took off from Charlotte about the same time that I was originally scheduled to leave Houston. So I called the airline company and notified them of the situation. The put me on standby for the last flight out of Houston heading to Harlingen, TX (my final destination). So upon arriving in Houston, I race to my terminal and head straight for the ticket counter. I give the lady there my information, and fortunately she is able to get me a seat on the plane due to a cancelation. I this point, I begin to relax a little, because I know I am going to make it to Matamoros, Mexico the same night and not be stuck sleeping in George Bush International Airport in Houston, TX.
Well about an hour or so later, we begin boarding the plane. I had seat 2A which is a Window/Aisle seat in the front of the little "puddle jumper" that I would be flying on. Knowing this, I waited till basically last to board. The plane is tiny, so I know I am going to have to Gate Check my guitar, because it won't fit on the plane...this didn't thrill me at all. And adding insult to injury, as I started to board, a lady at the counter handed me a gate check pass and I took it from her. I turned and asked her if there was any way I could get it on board. I tried to explain to her that the pressure changes and temp. changes damage my guitar. She was quite the smart-alic and her reply was something to the effect of "well maybe next time you will just buy a second seat for your precious guitar". As you can imagine, I was not happy. I had already had a long day; I didn't need lip from a lady at the airport who thought she would be funny.
So I walked out or the gate and headed for the plane. I put my guitar on the gate check cart and started up the steps to board the plane. As I reached the top the Flight Attendant greeted me and ask how I was doing. I replied "I am doing ok, but I'd be doing a lot better if I could get my guitar on the plane with me". I was basically venting to this flight attendant because I was frustrated, but I tried to do it with a smile. She told me that she understood my frustration and would see what she could do about getting it onboard. Of course, this excited me. I sat down and a few minutes passed by. She continued working and helping other passengers...specifically the ones who seemed to be unable to put carry-on in the overhead compartments and the ones who couldn't open the bathroom door. I found this rather ammusing because I knew at least someone else on the plane was sharing in my frustration with that evening's flight.
A few minutes passed and she walked up and told me to go get my guitar and move to seat 6b. She had gotten a gentleman to switch seats with me because he had an empty seat beside me. So I ran out and got my guitar and buckled it in beside me. Then I noticed more passengers coming on board. They were sending "standby" passengers down to the plane. The flight attendant came back by and told me to "hang on" cause I may have to take the guitar back outside. Well a few minutes passed and the people stopped coming on board. She came by and told me it was "my lucky day". The people inside had miscounted and sent 49 passengers down to the plane...the problem was, there were 50 seats. She assured me that "she wasn't going to alert them of the mistake". So My guitar was on the plane for good. I was elated. I thanked her repeatedly and told her how much it ment to me that she did that for me; especially after the day I had been through. I mean, talk about personal service. It was a wonderful flight and I made it to the Gateway before Mid-night. As I went to bed that night, I thanked God for the blessing of a caring flight attendant and a safe guitar.
It was such a great way to kick off a great week of ministry. The trip was wonderful and I saw God do some pretty cool stuff. The week ended and I said goodbye to the particpants and prepared to catch a flight back to Houston, TX then onto New Orleans, LA. I remember thinking as I packed; I sure hope I get a great flight attendant for this flight as well.
I was again on a tiny puddle jumper and just knew my guitar was going to have to be gate checked. But I was a little happier than I was preparing for the flight a week before. I mean God had blessed me once so I couldn't complain. I arrived at the airport with a father and daughter who had been on the trip that week. They had decided to skip out on the 20 hour bus ride back to Birmingham, AL. Their flight left about 45 minutes after mine, so we killed some time at a restuarant in the airport. We got to talking and I lost track of time. I heard an announcement about boarding for my flight, so I knew I needed to hurry and get through security. I told them by and hurried to security. I was in a rush so I wasn't really paying much attention to what was going on; I just rushed to get my stuff through. As I was gather my stuff up on the other side of the security check-point, I looked behind me and saw a flight attendant. I took a double take because I thought I was seeing things...then I just started to laugh...it was the same flight attendant from my flight a week before. She hadn't noticed me yet...she was focused on "just getting through security". I tried to get her attention by saying "what are the odds" and it worked...she looked up and took a double take as well. We both laughed as we continued gathering up our things. I opened up my guitar case and quickly detuned my guitar...saying to her "I doubt I'll get lucky 2 flights in a row" she laughed and responed "well, we'll see what we can do. We walked to the gate and talked the whole way there. I told her why I had been in Mexico and how the week had been great. When we reached the gate, she proceeded onto the plane and I waited for boarding to start. A few minutes later I see her wal out of the gate and motion for me...she told me that the flight only had 46 passengers and she was having the ticket lady switch my seat so that I could have an open seat beside me for my guitar.
I was in shock! I mean, I couldn't believe it. Agian, the wonderful flight attendant had taken time to take care of me personally. As we approached Houston on the flight, she walked back and we chatted for a few minutes. I thanked her again and told her how much of a blessing she had been. She asked me about my music and we talked about other things. She then informed me that she was a Chrisitan and that she had been excited to hear that I was too. Yet another wow moment.
I mean, the whole thing was like a movie...it was just too good to be true...haha. Just goes to show you how the little things make a huge impact on people's lives. Katie (the flight attendant) blessed me in a HUGE way just by simply caring about a passenger she had never met. I wonder how many people I can bless just back taking a few minutes out of my day to show them I care.
Looking back on the whole thing, I still say WOW! I'm not convinced that my Katie wasn't an angel sent just to remind me that God is in control of everything...even the little things. I may never know for sure...but then again, she did have a set if wings (pinned to her uniform that is).
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
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