Yes I have finally updated my blog!

Yes, I have finally updated my blog. I wanted to do it earlier but I felt that I needed to increase the suspense for my legions of readers (the more suspense the more money). I am sure that by now you have noticed a difference in my writing. That would be because I now am in my first ministry position. I am currently the associate pastor/ planter of teaching and educational development for Mercypointe Community Church. My funding comes from the North American Mission Board. I am a semester missionary working with our pastor. I am really excited. The way things have unfolded has been amazing. God has led me down this wonderful path. Sure there have been detours and delays, but I know this is where I am supposed to be. I do not see myself as a missionary even though the paper work says I am. The reason for my doubt is the lack of super powers I have acquired. Missionaries all have special powers. They can actually hear God speak audibly. I have heard no audible voices from God. Missionaries have the Bible memorized and know it backwards and forward. I am not even close on this one and must use commentaries, dictionaries, concordances, and even the internet to be able to produce quality lessons and sermons. Besides, missionaries just radiate the glory of God. They do not worry about things like money or safety. They have no desires for earthly things like laptops, ipods, digital cameras, or satellite radio (unless they can be used on the mission field). Missionaries always park in the back of the parking lot just so others can park closer. Missionaries hardly produce any waste or garbage because they are so resourceful. They do stuff like turn chicken bones into cool necklaces and they turn junk mail into scratch paper, so they don’t have to spend the money to buy stick it notes. How could I possibly live up to this? My family throws out about a ton of trash per week. I like to park as close to the store as I can. I love my ipod, I am writing this on my laptop, and would like to have a digital camera someday (I am not interested in satellite radio, so if resisting satellite radio was the only requirement to being a good missionary there would be no problems). And lastly my face does not radiate anything especially not the glory of God (no one has ever come to a saving knowledge of God by looking at my face). How can I do this? How am I qualified to be a missionary?
Then I remember Ephesians 2:8. “For by Grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” This reminds me that I did not start this on my own. From the very beginning my relationship with God was initiated by Him. I do not deserve this honor of serving my Lord anymore than I deserve the salvation he has freely given me. I was saved by His grace and the only way I will be able to serve him is through His grace.

Please! Keep me in your prayers as I strive to serve my King.