Deep Well Discipleship

Real or imitation, that was always the debate on Memorial Day in our family.  Dad despised imitation flowers and only fresh would do for him.  That has stuck with me over the years and I too would rather have real flowers and plants rather than imitation.  Yet I have been challenged to be imitation.  Ephesians 5:1 says to imitate God.  My actions and life should be a reflection of Him and no longer myself.  I must live for Christ and walk worthy that others would see Him in me and that I might be an example to others.  For once imitation is a good thing… So I pondered, “What does it mean to live for Christ?”   “What does that look like?”   Paul writes in Ephesians 4:1 that we are to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling which you have been called…”(ESV)   This walk begins at the cross and it is the call to “run the race with endurance” (Hebrews 12:1)   As Christians there are times we forget that we are saved by grace, God’s grace, not our own achievements.   When

On December 28th my family headed the call to GO and found ourselves in West Texas.  We moved from the rolling hills of Northern Missouri, only a few hours from our families, and drove 14 hours to the flat plains of Seminole TX.  God has an amazing way of calling us, taking us out of our comfort zone, shaking us up, and putting us where He desires to use us the most.  When Lisa and I first started talking about God's call into the ministry in 2000, one of the most important conversations we had was always being obedient to what He would have us to do and where He would have us to go.  We have moved from Kentucky back to Missouri and now out to Texas.  All along the way we have seen His hand at work and like Paul there is only room to boast in the cross. My desire as a husband, father, and pastor is to love, lead and feed my family and the body of Christ equipping them (as Paul discusses in Ephesians 4) to do the work of ministry. As a pastor I fail when I am not leading others to