This picture is of my cousin Ryan, but its message to me is powerful.  I have been perplexed at how God can find me worthy to be His instrument; it is this thought that has stopped me in my tracks many times, but I have come to realize recently that God has forgiven me anything that may make me unworthy, and has given me Christ - everything that makes me worthy to be his instrument. I now can step out boldly and know that God is with me and CAN use me as his instrument. THANK YOU GOD! I will now show my thanks by the life I live!

Men of God

Matt Phillips (my best friend) and my cousin (Ryan Lovelace) ventured out to the mountains this weekend to encourage one another to be strong in the Lord. Matt and I call each other by other names; Matt is David and I am Jonathan.  We have such a strong brotherhood relationship that we chose to use these names; it is the strength of love that David and Jonathan had as close friends that we share. This weekend provided the opportunity to welcome Ryan to join us in our walk with God. We discussed what it is to be a man of God while hiking, fishing, cliff diving, and just drinking coffee by the fire. We wrote each other letters of encouragement and read them aloud around the campfire. What an awesome weekend to experience God. It was majestic to experience the stars at night without city light interference. Thank you David and Ryan-My brothers in arms- for this adventure/experience.

Half Dome

On June 6th, there will be many of us that will endeavor to hike the 16 mile round trip journey to the top of Half Dome (Yosemite Valley) and back.  It will be tough, it will challenge the weak, and it WILL humble us all.  At the top, we will experience the realization that we are not as big as we think. We will come before God and his creation, and we will be enlightened to this fact; we are nothing in comparison.  I pray that we will come back with complete reverence for our God, the creator of the world. And I pray that we will entrust our souls, our work, and our lives to Him.

Matthew 4:19

"Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."

I love to fly fish. To carefully choose the fly that will attract a beautiful Oncorhynchus mykiss (rainbow trout).  To tie the fly securely in place, preparing for the catch. The trout bites, the fisherman snaps, holding the line tight, hauling in the yield. With fly fishing you feel every bit of the struggle.  I pray that God will use the church, carefully placing each member (fly) securely where he/she needs to be, in order to haul in the yield.  The struggle will be felt, for the world is tough to let go for some.  Follow Him, for he will make you fishers of men.

We are afraid of persecution, rejection, and failure.

-What is persecution, but evidence of not living according to the persecutor.

-What is rejection, but evidence of insecurity within the rejector.

-What is failure, but evidence of success in trying.