Two More Classes

I have two more classes to complete, then I'll be a liscenced minister/pastor. If you would have told me a year ago that I would be where I'm at now, I would not have believed it. Me a pastor? Yeah right. Good joke right?

It was gently expressed to me about this time last year that I look into taking some classes to further along my study of the Bible. I thought, hmmmmmm, that would be interesting, so I signed up to take four classes originally. After my first class was finished, I thought to myself "I could see myself doing even more than the original four". So after my fourth class, I asked the regestration person if I could continue to come even though I had only signed up for the four classes. She told me that I could and I didn't have to re-register. Awesome!

So now I am starting my seventh class out of eight. It has been a real blast so far. The fellowship with all of the other people doing the same thing that I am doing is incredible. We only meet once a month with a three and a half hour overview of the  material on Friday night, and then on Saturday morning, we take our test and then have classroom application.

I never ever in my life thought that I could ever attend a college class. I really didn't like high school to much, so the thought of doing more classes didn't really excite me to much. After the first one, I thought "I can do this". And I have. Philippians 4:13 For I can do everything through Christ,^c who gives me strength.

God has something big instore for me. I just have to be patient. I believe this is the first step in his plan for me. Jeremiah 29:¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope

So I continue on. I believe that God has called me to this. I shall wait and see where it goes from here. Praise GOD!!

Salvation

As some of you may or may not know, my Dad passed away last April. It was very difficult to go through, but GOD helped me through it. The thing that made it a little easier was the fact that I knew that he was saved. I knew where my Dad was going when he passed. I knew that I would see him again someday in heaven. I knew all of this because I had some family members tell me. Then I recieved a box of photos when he passed. Inside the box were two pictures of him being baptized. Full immersion. That solidified it for me!

I would like to have that same feeling when other members of my family come to the end of their lives. I would love to think that they are all saved and are going to see Jesus in Heaven, but I am not so sure of this. It saddens me to think of eternity without all of my family there with me. So how do I have this conversation with them to make my concerns known? Not to pressure them or try to force them into a relationship with God. I don't want to push my beliefs down their throat but I want them to know Jesus.

My pastor asked a question at church the other day. He asked if it is harder to talk with a family member or a stranger about Jesus? The obvious answer is a stranger! They don't have any idea of who you are or where you have come from. Whereas your family remembers where you have been and how you used to be in your BC (before Christ) days! Maybe I am afraid of being judged. Maybe I am afraid that they will not think that my new life is for real. All I can do for proof is to live out my faith. Show them by the way that I live.

So my prayer is that all of my family will come to know Jesus. Commit their lives to him and be saved. Live by faith and believe that Jesus died for their sins! Look forward to a lifetime in eternity! How awesome would that be?!?  Praise the Lord!

Done!!

I am done with Facebook. At least for a while anyway! It was a great tool to use to get back in touch with some family and friends that I haven't seen in awhile. It was a great tool for when my Dad passed away. To get the word out, and get things situated with long distance family! It also has been a good tool to use to witness for Jesus! But now it feels more like an idol to me. I feel like I have to check in every couple of hours to see what the latest buzz is. I am constantly thinking about signing in and browsing around! Seeing what's up with this person, or that person. It has gotten to be to much.

I am going to start putting my efforts into being a much better husband! A much better father! A much better student! Less time on the computer checking on everyone else, and start spending more quality time with my family and my studies.

For those of you who do not know, I am going to school to be a pastor. Yes you heard me correctly, a pastor. I felt this call of God late last summer, early fall. I started classes last January and all I need are three more to get my license. One more year of eight classes and I can be a certifed pastor. Another year to take ordained classes. Then you have to be invited to be ordained.

I am surprised at the lack of support for my decision to take these classes. Oh my wife is on board 100%. It's just other people whom I thought would be very excited for me, but seem not to be. Unfortunately I have had to lose some *friends* along this new path. Friends who seem to be stuck in the past. I have moved on in my life, to a much better place. The unwillingness to believe is unreal! I don't make fun of them for still sitting in a bar 25 years after graduating high school, so don't make fun of me for the direction I am taking.

For forty years I was a huge sinner. I was a drinker, a party'r,  a fornicator, a liar, looking out for myself and didn't care who got hurt along the way.

Three months after my 40th birthday, God came a calling and pulled me out of all that junk. Praise the Lord! I am saved and living for Jesus everyday now. Some people just can't grasp this. I pray for them. That they can have what I have. Everyone needs Jesus! He is the answer to every problem, every situation. Praise GOD!!