Untitled, from a 2009 draft...

Hello all, It has been a little while since my last post but it is not due to anything going wrong, in fact life is getting better every day. I feel extremely blessed, and I am looking forward to what God has in store for my future and the future of my family. I would like to extend a special hello to Chris Sorrells and Amy Hofmeier. I have known you guys for a long time, and we all have been through much. You both are in my prayers, and you hold a special place in my heart.

Here at Homes of Hope, we have been doing a study called Wild at Heart by John Eldredge. The study deals with the wildness that was instilled in men by God, and how we do or don't deal with it. The study culminated with a short retreat at the Wesleyan youth camp near Table Rock. We had a great time in the Lord, and a great time of food, fun and fellowship. At one point we were asked 3 questions and sent off by ourselves for a couple of hours to hear from the Big Man Himself. The questions were as follows:

1. What is my purpose

2. What have I received during my time at Homes of Hope

3. What do I still need to change about myself

As far as my purpose is concerned, I asked God to show me the grandiose vision he has for me, and He was silent. I asked Him how I was going to impact the world, and He was silent. Finally, I asked Him How I could best represent Him, and he told me to be the priest of my house. He told me to be a Holy example to my wife and daughter. This is my purpose until further notice. Oddly enough I am completely at ease with this. I am not afraid of small beginnings, and though I will be turning 43 this year, I feel like I am just now becoming a man, just now becoming the man God wants me to be, and just now becoming the man my family needs me to be. I am including video responses to the other 2 questions. For those of you who don't know, I lost a front tooth in a work related accident, and have since broken the plate that was made for me, so don't be surprised at the missing tooth! I am also posting some pictures from the retreat, which included Pretty Place at Camp Greenville, and Lake Keowee. The wrap-up is done by Ted Cochran, the director of operations at Homes of Hope, and the man most responsible for the curriculum and welfare of the interns and intern program.

Anne is about 26 days into a 40 day fast, and I know that this is about where it starts getting really rough, not that it hasn't been rough on her already. I am praying that God will reveal things to her that were previously hidden, and grow her past the point that she expected to be at. God likes to exceed expectations, and I know he will do so for her. Please pray for her as she comes to remembrance.