If You Only Knew…..

With the changing of the seasons I find myself reflecting on my life and the different seasons I have gone through. All have been good, but some have also been hard in that goodness. Sometimes we only see the goodness of a season after that season is over.

I wanted to take time in this blog to honor and ackknowledge those who have had a significant impact on my life over the years.

First and foremost are my parents and grandparents. I have realized that the Lord has blessed me with a permanence in my life.

My family(parents, grandparents, brother, sister in law) has literally always been in my life. I grew up 25 years of my life with them until I did this thing called the World Race. It was after this journey that I chose to move to Gainesville, Ga to live and work with the organization that completely changed my life.

Even though I chose to move to Ga, my family has consistently supported me and has been a constant in my life. I get to see them and go back to PA, to a house that I have called home for 27 years of my life and will continue to call home until I arrive in heaven.

 

I realize that not many people can say that. That their family has been so consistent and supportive in their lives. Or that they can go back to their childhood house, to the room they grew up in. To a place that is saturated with love, acceptance and the presence of the Lord.

I can say that.

And I don’t say that to boast, but to give glory to God that He has infused my life with a beautiful permanence that is directly from him. I did nothing to earn it. It is a continuous gift from Him.

 

It is my family, my parents and grandparents who have walked out their faithfulness to the Lord in such a way that it was instilled in me at a young age and something that as I grew I made the choice to grab onto and walk in as well.

Beyond the shadow of a doubt I know that I am the man of God that I am today because of them…..

 

And I am forever grateful.

I can also attribute parts of who I am today because of the Pastors that have poured into my life. I remember when Pastor Rich Berg first came to my home church to be our new pastor. The first day I met him our church was having a soup luncheon. 

He, not being a fan of soup, invited myself and several other youth to go across the street to enjoy pizzs and calzones!

That moment was the beginning of a friendship that also helped shape who I am today. Pastor Berg is a man who poured into the youth. His house was always open to visit and there was always an open invitation to play board games on any given weekend.

He loved and accepted those around him and poured out the Lord’s unconditional love on myself and all of the youth in the church. He helped shape my faith though out middle and highschool.

Not only did he impact my youth, but years later, after leaving out church and moving into a season with a church across the river, he gave me the opportunity to be the Youth Leader at his church, trying my hand at leading youth and giving away a little of what the Lord had poured into me at that point. It was a seasons that helped launch me into the nations on my World Race trip and for that I will be forever grateful.

After pastor Berg left our church, Pastor Ryan Gephart stepped into His place. Pastor Ryan is a man full of energy! He always preached the word with passion and was lead by the Holy Spirit. I still remember his iconic teaching on “remembering your baptism” where he sprayed water over the congregation to remind them of their new life in Christ.

One of his sermons that will also forever be with me is his teaching on Romans 6.

“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? BY NO MEANS!”

His passion for the word and teaching made church and teachings memorable and fun. 

 

There are many other people who have impacted my life along the years and I will be continuing this blog of remembrance and  commemoration to the people who helped make me the man I am today. 

More to come….