Landon Playing in the Sprinkler

Landon Picture

Freedom, Saints, Freedom!

"...all my stains are washed away..."

This morning I had the opportunity to share my testimony to the students who are serving this summer at Highland Lakes Camp. I opened with, "Have you allowed Jesus to completely wash away your stains?"

Glowing Blue led the group in Grace Like Rain, where the above lyric comes from. God laid it on my heart to encourage the students to let their past go and bask in the freedom and love that Christ offers. In Galatians 5:1 it states, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

Christ offers freedom and yet so many people hang on to the past. If you have Christ in your heart, you are no longer a sinner because Christ has set you free. Jesus' blood is enough to wash your stains away.

What are you hanging on to today? Have you allow the blood of Christ to wash all your sins away? I pray that each of you bask in the freedom Christ has set before us.

God Bless.

Random Thoughts

Summer is upon us. About 50 Summer Missionaries arrive today (those that aren't already here).

Blue Bell Ice Cream is now selling a Butter Crunch flavor. If you like Butterfinger and Blue Bell, this is a must try.

Watching my little boy taking his first steps is amazing.

Check out a Penny for your thoughts. My cousin Penny is a riot, check out her blog.

When I put Landon in the tub a few nights ago, there was also a live scorpion taking a bath too. I quickly reacted and scooped the scorpion out with a water pail and dumped it in the toilet. Small crisis averted.

Kari and I have started doing night time lawn projects...it is hard to weed the garden at 9pm, but a lot cooler.

I am looking forward to catching up with Mike Satterfield, who will be here this week and twice for Journey Camp.

Have a blessed Sunday. Go love someone, even if it hurts.

Landon's First Trip to the ER

On Sunday, May 16th, Kari and I took Landon to the Emergency Room. Before you have to read the whole article, Landon is fine.

Early Sunday morning Landon woke up about 1:30am and as I was rocking him back to sleep his body began to radiate with heat. I treated him with some Tylenol and put him back to sleep. Later that morning he continued to have fever of about 101 degrees. As the day progressed, Kari noticed a rash.

After attempting to contact our pediatrician, we took another pediatricians advice who said not to allow a fever and rash go unchecked. We headed out the door and went to Seton Southwest. Several hours passed and finally we were seen by a doctor.

The doctor diagnosed Strep throat and the rash was just an due to the fever. Landon got a shot and we headed home.

After further review of Landon's clothing, we have reason to believe the rash is due to his clothing being washed in Tide.

Update: Landon is doing much better. He slept with me on Monday night, but did much better last night. He was in a great mood this morning and hopefully he will be 100% by tomorrow. Thanks for your prayers.

Coming Soon to Insert Title Here

Here are a few blogs that are scheduled:

Landon's First Trip to the ER

God See's Your Motives

Thoughts on Faith & Works

Random Thoughts

Stay tuned and thanks for reading Insert Title Here. God Bless.

"Spiritual Musings from a Foolish Man"

I want to invite my readers to check out a blog that I really enjoy.

My pastor buddy (who is not so "foolish"), Jason writes Doodles, Scribbles, Hums and Notes. I keep re-reading his most recent post, The Heart Breaks and Breaks. It rings of truth and it keeps pointing my mind back to Christ. If you don't go to his post, here is a quote:

"You will be beat up and bloodied, but of the things that remain that lead us towards the light, love is the greatest. In the gospels, Jesus dies for love, and the truth is, that is the pathway to a living heart. We reach out with wounded hands that are barely healed from the last experience and our heart breaks and breaks, on its own journey toward being a thing of beauty.

I hope your days are blessed and full of life, but if you must suffer today or tomorrow, suffer for love and let your broken heart live."

Jesus lives, loves and dies for you, but it doesn't end there; He rose three days later and now sits at the right hand of God interceding for us (Romans 8:34).

Go love someone, even if it means someone might not love you back. Love hurts, but Christs love is sufficent.

For sermons from Jason, check out http://www.thewellinaustin.com/

God Bless.

Preparation for Summer Time

I am very excited that Summer 2010 is almost arrived at Highland Lakes Camp. I have enjoyed six straight summers here and am looking forward to my seventh.

Camp holds many, many, many opportunities for ministry. From the 50 college students who sacrifice 12 weeks of their summer to serve in the hot sun on the Recreation staff to the Public Relations staff who lose sleep editing video; the approximately 10,000 guests who come through the gates of HLCCC and the program guests I get to work with seven weeks out of the summer. It is such a honor and blessing to serve at Highland Lakes.

I would ask that you begin praying for our Summer Missions Team (those 50 college students I mentioned), the students attending camp and the HLCCC staff. Please pray for a boldness to share the Gospel daily, strength, and perseverance. We praise and thank the Lord for Summer 2010 and look forward to all the many exciting works You are going to do.

God Bless.

Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From The American Dream

Written By and Review By: Rod Cordsen

The "gospel" of the American Dream has infiltrated ever part of our American lives including the church. We spend more money every year on luxuries; even the building we meet in, the house we live in and the comforts to make life easier. We even say things like, "well that is our culture and we must go where they are to meet them and use their things and ways to draw them into the church."

In Radical, David Platt teaches very clearly the Gospel message of Jesus Christ and it doesn't look anything like the American Dream. When Jesus tells the rich man to sell all he has and give it to the poor and follow Him, we say things like, "that is not what he really means," or "we are not rich." True discipleship is a total surrender of yourself, your things, your ways and your comforts for the sake of the Gospel. We call that radical.

Platt is encouraging each of us to live the "Radical Experiment" for one year; beleive and obey what we have heard. Don't just give our scraps, but give our excess even to the point of pain. Seek out what our real responsibility is in discipling the nations. The challenge is to just preach the Gospel, disciple these who know Him and baptize them. By our transformed lives, Jesus Chirst will make Himself known and be glorfied. he will also draw the lost and save those who hear His Good News.

You are blessed by God for a global purpose. The world needs Radical followers of Christ more thanever! Read Radical and take your faith back from the American Dream.

Take up your cross...Abandon everything for the Gospel.

Download and read chapter one by clicking here and also check out http://www.radicalthebook.com/

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Capital Metro Rail is a Blunder

Capital Metro has had much lighter ridership for its Monday-to-Friday rush hour service during the line's six weeks of existence — about 1,000 a day since fares began, officials said.

Disclaimer: I hate Capital Metro.

If you had a chance to read the paper today, you will read the above quote. Are you kidding me? This train doesn't pay for itself. Austin is not dense enough to even have rail, but someone thought it would be a good idea to waste money.

Sell the trains. Stop wasting money on a money pit. Take away the Capital Metro tax money they receive and tell them to earn some money.

Get rid of Capital Metro.

This concludes my rant.