The Prince of Screw Ups.

Man have I screwed up in my life. In fact, I have screwed up a lot. I continually do no matter how hard I try to do better. I certainly do not deserve to be a Prince, but yet that is exactly what I am. In fact, the kingdom to which I am an heir is the wealthiest in the entire world. The streets are made of gold. My Father, well, He is the King of Kings. All will one day bow to Him. How bout you? Are you a Prince or Princess? Well, you can be. In fact, my Father is looking for children to adopt. The adoption process isn't hard - consider it a gift. All you have to do is accept it. You see, most people do not understand Christianity for what it is. It is so simple, people make it hard. We think that we are not good enough to have a relationship with the Almighty God. We think He could never love us. We think we are just screw ups. How could we ever measure up to the mighty heroes of the Bible?

Well, the truth is that the heroes of the Bible were screw ups too. Imagine if you will a television announcer making the introductions of the great Bible heroes.

"He had everything he could have ever wanted. He lived in Paradise with the most beautiful woman ever created and all he had to do was follow the rules - But he didn't. And as a result sin entered into the world, he was kicked out of Paradise and God had to sacrifice His only begotten son to restore His relationship to humanity. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Adam."

"This lucky fellow survived The Great Flood because he was found obedient to God. He built an ark, watched all the animals come two-by-two, and survived the Flood. Then he became drunk and laid naked for his children to see. This caused a family feud which resulted in him cursing his son Ham and giving his land to his son Shem. Meet Noah."

"This man is the Father of Nations. He is one of the most influential people in the Bible. Yet, he didn't trust God when God told him he would have a son with his wife. He doubted because his wife was old and he decided to try to have a son himself. So, at his wifes behest he had a son with his wife's servant. Then, when his wife had the son God had promised, he ran his wife's servant and his firstborn son off. The son he had with the servant saw his lineage create the Muslim faith while the son he was promised by God watched his heirs lead to Jesus and the Christian Faith. I give you Father Abraham and his sons Ishmael and Isaac."

"Isaac's son, he was a twin who deceived his father in order to steal his brother's birth right and become a great figure in the Bible. In fact, he became known as Israel and from him many nations were formed. Here is Jacob."

"And finally, this great king was said to be a man after God's own heart. He is famous for killing a giant with a slingshot and is likely the greatest king of the Old Testament. Yet, he lusted for another man's wife, committed adultery with her, and then sent her husband to the front lines of battle and had him killed thereby essentually murdering him. It is the Great King David."

You see, my article isn't to mock these Biblical Greats, because they truly did great things and truly had great relationships with God. My point is that everyone is human and we have ALL BLOWN IT. It doesn't matter how badly - God wants to forgive us. He wants to have a relationship with little ole us. He wants to make us Princes and Princesses and heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven. So tell me...screw up. Can you, will you, accept this free gift? Will you be a Prince or Princess today? Or just a screw up?

Prayers for a Friend.

As I type these words today, an older friend of mine from the church is very ill. She is more than a friend, she is the one who first invited me to attend the church to which I now gratefully belong. Her simple act of obedience, in inviting my family (largely strangers to her at the time) to her church has had so many trickle-down affects that it makes me stand in awe of my creator and appreciate what a master weaver he truly is. By obediently following his will, she has brought glory upon God because I now stand truly amazed at all that has come from her simple gesture.

You see, SHE INVITED ME TO CHURCH. So what you may say. Well, SHE INVITED ME TO CHURCH...and...I brought my family - and that is just the beginning of the story. My oldest daughter was saved at this church. Her two best friends were also saved at this church. From the love of this church I have seen my mother come forth and make her salvation public. I have seen my oldest daughter and my wife baptized. And all this because SHE INVITED ME TO CHURCH. But wait, that is just the beginning of the story.

At this church my wife went on a mission trip to Haiti that changed her life. She came back and left her job in order to study medicine so that she could do medical mission work. Then my wife and I sent gifts to Haiti so that children who rarely see Christmas gifts would wake up with presents for the first time in years. My mother was so moved by the stories of the Haiti mission trip that she started a sewing ministry with my grandmother and they now send dresses to orphans in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. All of this because - SHE INVITED ME TO CHURCH. But wait, that is just the beginning of the story.

Today, as I set here typing these words I am intensely praising my God in Heaven for being so amazing as to be able to weave together this incredible tapestry. My prayers are music to his ears and they are as a result of her INVITING ME TO CHURCH.

Prayers be with you friend - your meaning on my life as well as many others you surely cannot grasp.