Author: Wick

Okay everyone….it’s finally known by the general public….so I can finally announce…

I’ve been hired full time as a YOUTH PASTOR again!!!!! 🙂

Starting May 31st, I will be the Youth Pastor at Moundford Free Methodist Church here in Decatur, IL!!! So be prepared as this myspace/my life finally become a whole lot more youth ministry oriented….and I get rid of words like “quota”, and “commission”…(other than the Great Commission)!!! Thanks to all of you who were praying with/for us, for supporting us during this past year. TONS of thanks also to our church family at Trinity Nazarene here in Decatur….I’m not sure what we would’ve done without you. Know that you’re continuing to be lifted up, and hopefully we can stay in touch!!!

here’s an excerpt from the announcement I made to the church sunday….

“When Sarah and I first moved to Decatur, we really had nothing planned out. We left a couple successful jobs in Cedar Rapids, Iowa only knowing that we felt called to be closer to family soon; as we were looking to start our own family also. We had an apartment, I had an hourly job, and Sarah would substitute teach. We prayed that God would lead us, as we took this step of faith.
Over the past year, as a church family, youve loved us, and been there for us so much. Youve seen the changes God has provided for us. Sarah getting hired full time in a teaching capacity. Me moving from an hourly job, to working full time in radio advertising, and then with Pitney Bowes…each job providing more than the last. Youve watched as God enabled us to go from our 2 bedroom apartment to our very first home. You were here with us when we found out for the first time ever we were expecting a baby Anderson…
Over this past year, many of you have also shared with a burden of prayer, my calling to be in full time ministry. Although God has definitely used this past year, to stretch and teach me a lot of things about the business worldthose of you who know my heart, know I couldnt take much more of hitting quota. Weve prayed and prayed over the past year, that God would open the door to a full time ministry here near family. The pressure had compounded lately, wanting to be back in ministry by the time Addison arrivedbecause as bad as I am in sales, I cant imagine having the distraction of a baby in my home office. ?

I hope that if anything, you can see through our recent testimony how God provides when we take a step into the unknown. Its taken time, and its not been easy.but God had us in His timing. We thank God, and look forward to what He has in store.”

…please continue to pray with/for us as we begin the ministry God has called us to at Moundford Free Methodist…..:) (and for their teens…hehe 🙂 )

It’s about remembering our first love. It’s about the Lamb that appears to be slain, being the only one Worthy to open the scroll that connects the throne with the Throne. It’s about being faithful. It’s about accepting and responding what has been done for us. It’s not about what we do at all. It’s not about us. It’s completely about Him. For us.

In my reading lately, studying the book of Revelation…a VERY fascinating book. Why? Because of it’s widely misinterpreted messages. Growing up, hearing stories of how “end-times” will play out. Listening, even today, as grown men refer to sections of scripture, compare them to events of our time, and seem to “know” something about how God will bring about His Kingdom.

Evil.

Why are we fascinated by it? Why do we enjoy the “bad guy” movies so much? Why do the evil characters always get so much more screen time/dialogue, and action?

It was pointed out that the book of Revelation has a plot line that somewhat resembles the Wizard of Oz. The people of God are trying to find their way Home. They run into trouble along the way, sometimes forgetting the goal ahead. They get attacked by flying monkeys. Okay, so maybe it’s a stretch.

But we have to agree that the Book of Revelation is so much more than we often view it as. It is a REVELATION. Not of God’s timeline, or a secret coded message that if you figure it out you get a prize. It’s just what is says….THE REVELATION OF JESUS. It naturally comes with a message of Hope, Mercy, yes…even Judgment, and Love. And it is through a lens of Revelation we need to view our every day lives.

I think that’s one of the most important things studying this book has done for me lately. Reminded me that THIS is what matters. To view our lives through God’s Revelation. It’s not the thrones of worldly power, thrones of entertainment, thrones of success, thrones of working harder, and going faster that matter. It’s One Throne. The Throne of God. And no matter how we all get there…we will all end up at the foot of that Throne.

This throne is a mighty one. A powerful one. A Godly and Holy one. And yet…who is the only one able to reveal such a throne to us? Jesus. The God/Man who was a carpenter. Who walked miles and miles to spread God’s love. Who got his hands dirty to heal and serve the needs of the people He loved, even those who hated Him. Who was voluntarily crucified, painfully executed, to show us what really matters. This is the Throne we serve. This is the Throne that when we are faced with, our response is like that of the Heavenly Hosts….Praise God.

And this is the Throne we serve today. The Revelation of Jesus is NOT reserved for the end-times. It is for us….today…..right now. The messages to the seven churches are a great way to fan that flame….Remember Jesus. With all of your being. Today and tomorrow.

Remember Jesus. But not because He’s dead. ?

Once upon a time there was a boy. The boy was smelly. No one called him smelly. So he continued to be smelly.

One day, someone loved him.

Loved him enough to call him smelly. That was tough love.

Smelly began to shower daily, and wear deoderant.

Once upon a time there was a boy. The boy was ugly. No one called him ugly. So he continued to be ugly.

One day, someone loved him.

Loved him enough to call him ugly. That was tough love.

Ugly began to dress nice, and comb his hair.

Once upon a time there was a boy. The boy was annoying. No one called him annoying. So he continued to be annoying.

One day, someone loved him.

Loved him enough to call him annoying. That was tough love.

Annoying began to pay attention to other people, and listen more than he talked.

Once upon a time there was a boy. The boy was chunky. No one called him chunky. So he continued to be chunky.

One day, someone loved him.

Loved him enough to call him chunky. That was tough love.

Chunky began to eat better, eat less, and became more active.

Once upon a time there was a boy. The boy was smelly, ugly, annoying, chunky, and fallen. No one called him fallen. So he continued to be fallen.

Before he existed, someone loved him.

Loved him enough to die for him. That was Love.

So the smelly, ugly, annoying, chunky little boy recieved Faith.
He went to college, where smelly, ugly, annoying, and chunky boys rule the world.

Praise God. I miss college.

ps. Just finished “House” by Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti…..it’s aiiiight. Definitely not as good as his solo works. But still better than his non-fiction. Kinda predictable. Okay, VERY predictable. He needs to stay clear of Frank Peretti. Still a neat picture of Christ. But I think the “record” of Dekker’s writing is skipping. He’s been doing kinda the same story over again since the Black trilogy. He needs to branch out. I want something creative again, like Three or Blink. Here’s hoping towards his next release…. 🙂