Celebrating 23 years of Traveling Ministry
Nathan and Brianna 1986 the year we went on the road.
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Our daughter, Brianna, had just had her first birthday. It was the last day we would live in our own home for two and a half years. On October 17th, we left our comfortable little home in Forest Grove, Oregon and began a journey that would be truly amazing. All we had was a Chevy Citation and our suitcases as Tammi, Nathan, Brianna and I officially became homeless. It wasn't long until Jesus provided a beautiful travel trailer. We moved into our new 22 foot long home and began to "live on vacation." |
One of the things we used to say to our kids as we would be fishing in a mountain lake or entering the gates of Disneyland, "Do you know why we get to do this today? Because we're evangelists!" I'd say this with great animation. Soon, when I posed the question my two kids would cry out, "Cuz we're e-bangelists!" We enjoyed those years together visiting many small churches and experiencing life together in the cab our 69 chevy pickup.
In all the miles we drove, I can never remember our kids complaining about the drive even as we sat four abreast in the cab of our pickup.
In 1987 and 1988 the tragic news of the fall of Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggert dominated our nation. I began to ask the question, "Why wouldn't the same thing happen to me?" I began to seriously seek God about this. All the religious formulas were not working for me.
Then I remembered something that I had known as a child. Being a Christian is very simple. It's really all about living in love with Jesus. I began to wonder if all of our activities were really supposed to be a mere symptom of our love-relationship with Jesus and not the means to getting a love relationship. This was a radical thought for me (and much of Christianity) at that time. Soon I had discarded the forms and rituals that had been promised to produce life but never did and I began simply to live in love with Jesus.
I noticed that as I preached, a trememdous sense of the love of Jesus would flow out of me. It invigorated me and touched the hearts of people I spoke to. I am now convinced 20 years later that this is the rock solid and happy truth of Christianity. It's very simple. Christianity really all about living in love with Jesus.
This truth has transformed my entire life and the lives of thousands of others. Certainly, I wasn't the only person who had this revelation, many others were hearing the same thing at the same time I was, but regardless, it absolutely transformed my life and ministry.
During this time I started to realize something. I was speaking to Jesus' precious bride. It made me think that I needed to change my tone. I wouldn't speak in rough terms to another man's wife. Nor should I speak with harsh tones to Jesus beloved. I then realized that the scripture is true. "It's his kindness that leads us to repentance."
Since those years, God has only deepened this message in my spirit. We've traveled this nation teaching on "Acts of Obedience" and then formed Good Catch Publishing a ministry dedicated to helping Churches tell their remarkable testimonies to their cities by publishing books of their stories. (www.goodcatchpublishing.com)
One thing is for sure! I never could have embraced this calling without the love, support and enthusiasm of my precious, beautiful, smart, super-mom-wife. Tammi I love you and I can't believe how blessed I am to be married to you. You home-schooled our children, and loved me for 29 really fun years of marriage. I am so blessed.
My kids, Nathan and Brianna and my wonderful son-in-law are my best friends. I am blessed to have cofounded Good Catch Publishing with Nathan and have the priviledge of working with him every day.
Thank you, Jesus, for 23 years of wonderful ministry. I look forward to the next 23 years.
Last Updated (Thursday, 05 November 2009 16:49)
