Temecula Turkey Trot Part II

Results are in for the Temecula Turkey! Here are my official race results:

Time- 59:52
Place- 59th out of 153 finishers
           12th in my division (30-39 males)
           34th among males

Ok, you have no idea how happy I am with these results! I spoke yesterday about my desires for this race (to finish without walking and under 1 hour), and I made both of my goals!

According to the running calculator at Marathon Guide, I should be able to do the half marathon in 2:12:45. In my heart, I would like to finish that thing in under 2 hours, so obviously I have some speed work to do, but you know what? For my first half marathon, if I could finish in under 2:15, I'd be extremely happy.

If you want to see the official results, you can click on the Temecula Turkey trot link HERE. My first name, by the way, is Sheldon, so that's what the results are filed under.

San Diego Chargers Vs Kansas City Chiefs



Timothy and I got the wonderful chance to watch the Chargers/Chiefs game this weekend. I grew up in Southeast Kansas, so I was loosely affiliated with the Chiefs by default all of my life. The grandfather of one of Timothy's school mates knew that and as a way of saying "thank you" for my Navy service, he gave us his season tickets for that game. Needless to say, I am grateful and I was going to enjoy that game!

Here is Timothy testing out the binoculars. He's clearly a Charger fan. My Cavalier is clearly a Chief's fan!


The 50th Anniversary Team was announced before kickoff.
 

Here's Timothy getting settled into his seat:


Go Chiefs!


Go Chargers!
 

And a picture for momma!
 

The game was fascinating. As an AFC West fan, the chargers haven't looked this good to me in years, especially at this point in the season. They are really clicking along. KC is a sub-standard team and the Chargers treated them like it. As a Chief's fan, I see a lot of promise in Charles. I like him and I think they are building a good team for the future.

San Diego infuriated me by leaving in their starters until the 4 minute mark. That was uncalled for. I don't care who you are or who you are a fan of, there was no reason to run up the score like that. Kansas City was done by the end of the 3rd Quarter. This was unfortunate, but it was still a good game.

Thank you, Jack, for the tickets. You rock!

Temecula Turkey Trot Results


Yesterday was my first race of my new life. There is a lot to write about regarding the race, but I will try to keep the extra commentary down to a minimum. First of all, the t-shirt in the picture to your left is from the website The Art of Manliness. The shirt says, "Strong as a Bull Moose" and I love it. That statement says everything I want people to see in me as a husband, father, and (on days like yesterday) a runner. If you haven't been to The Art of Manliness, you need to check it out.

Anyway, on to the actual race report:

It was very cold (for San Diego), and rainy as you can see from the picture. I didn't dress correctly for the weather, but I ended up warming up by mile 3 or so.  I will say that I was disappointed that we started 30 minutes late. That was a big disappointment.

Here's a breakdown of my race:

Mile one: (8:24 split) I enjoyed this mile, but the race was a little disorganized, so we weren't corralled at all. I had to run past a lot of people who honestly shouldn't have been so close to the front. I say that understanding that people passed me too, so I wasn't really in the right place either. By the end of the mile, things had settled down quite a bit. Unfortunately, I ran this mile way too fast. I would end up giving all of that time back on mile four.

Mile two: (9:13) My split was much more in line with what I wanted during the race. I had settled down a lot by this time. The roads weren't nearly even. I don't mean just that there were hills, but rather that the condition of the road was less than desirable. Think washboard dirt road and you'll know what I was running on. I'm grateful, however, that I had zero ankle or knee problems. Rain started coming down during this mile, but quit again by the end of that mile.

Mile three: (9:22) Great split here as well. Slightly less than Mile two, but not bad at all. Nothing really to report. All systems were a go and I was grooving fairly well.

Mile four: (12:43) As you can see, I hit a wall here. It was an ugly hill that I didn't remember running down on mile three (we turned around at the end of mile three). Everyone around me got smacked in the face like I did, so I wasn't alone. Still, I was very, very disappointed with this mile and thought more than once during this stretch about giving up on my goal of less than 1 hour finish time.

Mile five: (9:44) Pushing through the above, I got back on track after that hill and found myself looking at a very real possibility of a 1 hour 10K. I felt some excitement coming back into my heart, and I started chanting internally (I hope!) "Under an hour! Under an hour!"

Mile six: (7:55) I still don't know where this came from. I've never run this fast on my training runs. I had wanted so bad to give 1 hour a shot that I found someone running that pace and settled in on the same pace. All I can do is be grateful that God provided this help when I needed it. I'm super excited about the split time for that mile and hope to build on it for future runs.

Finish:  (2:29) This was almost all uphill. The big finish was up the hill to Cougar Winery and I was having trouble fighting through my desire to quit at this point. I don't know where the energy came from to start running harder up the hill, but it came. I am so pleased with that very uphill run. I saw people cheering for me and it felt so good. As I crossed the finish line, I hit the stop time on my watch and heard my name being called out. "Smith, Sheldon Time: 59:53!" My total adds up to 59:50, but I'm not complaining! Hopefully, they will post the official results soon and of course I'll go with the official results.

I had two goals when getting ready for this run. My first goal was to just keep running. I didn't want to walk at all, except to get water, and only then to walk just enough to get the actual drink...then move on. My other goal was to run in under 1 hour. I'm so happy that I made both of my goals.

My pre-race weight was 240.5 pounds, which means that I've also lost about 6 pounds since starting on this journey. I'm very happy with the results all around. This is hopefully the first step in a long process to lose my weight, get faster and stronger, and meet my other goals. God is so incredibly good to me and this run is evidence of it. I can't wait to run my next one!

Back to Running

I'm a big man! I'm not going to lie to you. One of the reasons I started training by running is to lose weight, which I haven't done yet. I've been running for about four weeks now and I decided that I needed to put myself to the test. So I did what any sane person would do: I signed up for the 10K! I knew with a fair amount of confidence that I could run a 5K without having much trouble. Almost all of my training runs so far have been over 3 miles (just shy of 5K). So I decided to challenge myself right off the bat.

So why am I doing this? There are a couple of reasons.

1. I'm not waiting until January 1st to make a New Year's Resolution. I've made it now. I'm going to become leaner, faster, stronger.
2. I'm tired of worrying that I'll fail the US Navy PFA weigh-in every six months. Sick of it!
3. My daughter has cystic fibrosis. Exercise is vital for my daughter's lung function (CF is a lung disease). Therefore, I need to be active to teach my daughter to be active. What better way than to be a runner? It's the cheapest of the sports (although after buying various equipment and signing up for races, I'm having to rethink).
4. I was a runner "back in the day." I ran the 2 mile in high school. I wasn't fast, but I placed a few times. That was 80 pounds ago. Yes, I said 80 pounds! Time to go back to a sport I once loved and get back on the wagon, so to speak.
5. It is a pathetic example to say that I try to follow God and I look like this. Gluttony is a sin that many wax over, but it is still a sin. I eat too much. While I know full well that exercising will not fix my sinful problem of gluttony, I hope that it can help inspire me.

So these are the reasons for running. As I said, I've been doing this for about 4 weeks now, running on average about 10-12 miles a week. I haven't lost any weight because I keep sinning through gluttony, but through the Father, I hope to correct that issue soon.

I'll post tomorrow the results of my race.

CE Developer plays Guitar!

David Kuntadi, the developer for Ubuntu Christian edition, also plays classical guitar. I couldn't help but pass this on!


The Man who Caused Problems Pt II

The problem with the man who caused problems on my ship is that he leads a better life than I do. He does not cuss, he does not drink, swear, show pride, and a host of other outright sins, some of which I do commit. He has truly separated himself from the world, which is his claim based on the need to become holy, as the Father is holy.

I can't match that. May I be that honest? You can click away from my blog if you need to. I understand. But the one thing that bothers me about his life is that it is a more "pure" and "holy" life than I live. When he preaches his message of works, I often cringe. I have no such good works (not on that scale) to show potential converts. Unbelieving sailors who see me on the ship don't see a super Christian...they see Dan Smith...just a guy.

I'm not even particularly good at being just a guy. Half of the time I can't even decide what I want from that life either. It is a tough go some days.

Then again, the fact that I cannot measure up to that level of obedience keeps me, in some strange way, humble and accepting of the fact that only God can save me through his grace...through the blood. while I don't believe that salvation has to happen every day, I do see how my saved soul has to continually experience this grace that saved me in the first place.

More obedience is my goal, but I humbly accept that I am just me, and that God, for some strange reason, has kept me around despite that fact!

The Man who Caused Problems

I'm sick and tired of this fellow. His incessant preaching and teaching that failure to obey God is apostasy is not only ludicrous, but distracting. He would rather spend hours convincing believers that they are in danger of losing their salvation than allow the same believers to become active workers in the field with is the USS Antietam.

Granted, I'm not a theologian. I'm in seminary for several reasons, one of which is to understand the scriptures better, but the fact is that I unashamedly believe that the Gospel is the absolute only thing that matters first. It is after we establish that the Gospel is for everyone at any time that we can discuss our lives as believers. And, as I preached a week ago, I believe fervently that the same power that Grace reveals through the Gospel for salvation is also powerful enough to redeem our daily lives for the sake of the Kingdom. In essence, Mercy trumps all because Grace trumps all.

This sailor is a detractor. He claims that groups like the Navigators steal people from the church, yet it is he who steals from the true Body of Christ. I am angered by his actions. It is my prayer that God will prevent the believers on my ship from falling into his works-based trap.

Praise be to God for his Gospel! The power of salvation to all, and the grace that is sufficient for our lives after salvation.

Focusing on What Matters

First of all, it's great to be back home. My last underway was both amazing and extremely challenging spiritually, emotionally, and physically. On the upside, we had a Bible study and a Sunday service both matching the best turnout (actually, the Bible study set a record) we've had on board. This is something of an anomaly because most people on board ships don't think to come to service on short underways, figuring that it won't hurt them to be gone from church for a week. Famous last words... On a downside note, I was emotionally exhausted by the end of it. 10 days straight of informal counseling, advising, preaching, teaching, and standing watch had me at my wit's end. I'm glad it's done, to be honest.

Second of all, I'm not against advising, supporting those already born again, and helping to correct a brother or sister when they go off the deep end. Don't get me wrong.

But I am continually annoyed by a particular "believer" on board who does almost nothing except harp on other believers about being holy because God is Holy. I get it. I'm trying...and failing. I'm not trying to justify my sin. However, a good number of our younger believers on board are so busy trying to measure up to the standards that were sending them to hell before salvation that they aren't attempting to help others to salvation! It's driving me nuts!

I advised one young man tonight who had a major run-in with this holier-than-thou today to just focus on what God commands him to do. God knows he can't get perfection from us, but he does require obedience, and sitting around wishing I was a better man is not obedience. Leading others to Christ is.

The Continuing Power of the Gospel

I'm so happy for how tonight went. As I write this, I am celebrating in my heart that I got the chance to preach before 15 sailors. I'm so grateful for the opportunity. I don't want to sound like I'm creating false humility, but I just don't deserve the chance to preach, so to know that I got that chance, well, I'm overwhelmed.

As you can guess from the title, I preached on the Continuing Power of the Gospel, meaning that the same power that rescued us from hell can rescue us from our daily trials. I got a lot of good comments too. More than anything, I feel like I did the right thing tonight, and that's a good feeling.

Praise God for letting me do this! I'm so grateful!

Military Prayer Week Wrap-up

I want to thank all of you who helped me with the Military Prayer Week. I don't know if any other military folks can give testimonies of how thier week went, but I would like to say that we had our biggest turnout at our weekly Bible Study. I directly attribute that to prayer! So thank you!

On Sunday I will be preaching, so if you're able and willing, please keep praying!

MPW#10 Pray for more Laborers!

Matthew 9:37, 38
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”


Nowhere else have I seen such potential in the harvest of mankind for the kingdom than in the military. One can go virtually anywhere and find souls that are in pain, souls hungering for something more than what they have. And we need to respond. As this week of military prayer draws to a close, I want to encourage you to pray for more laborers in the field.


They may come by way of recruits who are already believers. Perhaps they will come by way of civilians at churches or other organizations that work to reach the military communities. Or, better yet, they can come by the making of disciples. However God brings them in the end is not up to us, however. Our response to this need for laborers is simply to pray!


Father, there are so many souls in the military that need you more than they need anything else. They face trials that many only stand in awe about…some of them face terrors that others can’t even imagine. Whatever they are facing now, we know that the military is a field that needs more laborers, and so today we pray for that.

MPW#9 Pray Against Childish Thought

I Corinthians 13:11
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.


Did you know that the average age of a service member in the military is between the age of 19 and 20? Despite the fact that almost all service men and women display a great amount of maturity in simply choosing to serve America, the simple fact that we are often so young when we join sometimes hampers this growth into mature adults. The simple fact is that sailing around in a billion dollar ship or driving a multi-million dollar tank requires a mature mind.


Many people join the military because they simply aren’t ready to face the world yet. This isn’t something to be ashamed of. Still, if we are to pray for the military, then one of the key things to pray for is maturity in thought and action. This is doubly true for those serving God and our country. God displayed through Paul’s example what it meant to mature as a person and believer. The same is possible in our military today. We can be a shining example of maturity that can point others to Christ. Pray for maturity today.


Father,
Thank you for making it clear to us that maturity is something all Christians should strive for. I now pray for the military Christian, that he would mature into a good example of what you want people to become so that he can serve you and his superiors with smarts, vigor, and with the desire to point them to you. I pray this in your name—Amen.

MPW#8 Pray Against Boredom

Proverbs19:15
Laziness brings on deep sleep,
and the shiftless man goes hungry.


Life in the military, even on deployment, is not all Hollywood shoot-‘em-ups. In fact, most of a given deployment might be spent simply trying not to be bored. Being bored, which can easily lead to slothfulness, can also lead to complacency. Complacency, when given time, can lead to death.


This is a very real problem when one if facing a potential or real foe in a war zone. Soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, and coastguardsmen all need to be alert and focused when on patrol and even while off duty. Death is the potential at any given moment. Boredom, slothfulness, idleness, complacency…whatever its name, the results are potentially the same: Injury or Death.


Unfortunately, even if the service member doesn’t face physical hard due to boredom, he or she can still be confronted by danger. Spiritual slothfulness and complacency can be equally damaging to the soul. Not only is the Christian witness damaged, but the opportunity to grow spiritually throughout a deployment is hampered severely. “An idle soul shall suffer hunger.” It’s not just a phrase…it’s a reality.


Your loved-one’s deployment can be one of the richest growth periods in his or her life in Christ. However, it can also be a huge stumbling block that can lead to a stunted process and spiritual starvation, not to mention potential physical harm or even death. By taking a moment to pray against boredom, you have helped your loved-one move forward.


Lord-I wish today for an awakening in my service member’s heart and soul. Please excite my loved-one’s soul and make his/her heart jump with the thought of growing closer to you today. I hope that you will protect him/her against complacency, both in this physical world and in the spiritual world that we also live in. Thank you very much for the fact that your life really is exciting, and I pray that you will show that side of yourself to my loved one continuously. Thank you Father.—Amen.

MPW#7 Pray against Addictions

Ephesians 5:18
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.


I gave up drinking on a recent deployment not because I was addicted (it would have been very difficult indeed to give it up in that case), but because I did not want to be addicted, and I was concerned that I may become as such. Add to that the fact that my witness, both to my family and my shipmates has become much better, and the benefits of doing that have been immeasurable. That brings up the reason for this morning’s post. Pray against addictions. They ruin testimonies and kill friendships. Worst of all, they destroy families, ripping them apart and stifling the growth of a Christian heart.


Too many of our servicemembers are addicts, either to work, alcohol, lust, gambling, or anything else that may be addictive. It is one thing to hope that your loved one won’t become an addict, it is another thing to ask God’s favor on the matter.


Father, I pray that you will protect my loved one from the ravages of addiction. I know the damages they can cause, both in your service and to my loved-one’s family. Please guide him/her into a relationship with you so as to protect them from a relationship with an addiction. In your holy name—Amen.

MPW#6 Pray for Wisdom

James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.


Wisdom is vital. It’s as important for you as it is for me. Yet folks in the military, because we are in such close quarters with those we need to reach with the Gospel, need extra helpings of a different kind of wisdom.


A military member needs wisdom so that he or she won’t make costly mistakes that would hinder the Gospel. We need wisdom to deal with unique situations that those in the civilian community don’t face. We need wisdom to know when to share the Gospel. We need wisdom when in the battle zone. The list goes on and on…which is why we pray for wisdom today.


Lord, please grant our fighting men and women the wisdom they need in order to do your work. We know that you give it in large portions, and as the believers who serve our country pray for it, we pray with them. Please grant them the wisdom they need to be better servants for you.--Amen

MPW#5 Pray for Veterans


Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.


You know, the military of today owes much to the military of yesterday. Just like our spiritual lives, wherein we have this “cloud of witnesses”, we in the military have a cloud of witnesses that went before us as well. That is why we pray this morning, Veteran’s Day, for the immense cloud of witnesses that made their stand before most of us were born.


I’m especially awestruck by stories of men and women who were believers in the military, or who became believers after they left the military. They have a special story that we should attempt to understand, for it is our story now.


Please pray for the veterans. Just because many are no longer active duty does not mean that they don’t need Christ!


Father, many Americans have served the United States through the military in times past, as well as today. I pray that you will bless them and for those who do not yet know you, I pray that you will lead them to your son. In Christ name I pray, Amen.

MPW#4 Pray for Boldness

Ephesians 6:19
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,


If you think that your loved-one is kept quieted by the military, then you have misunderstood. Yes, there are rules to obey when it comes to sharing our faith, maybe particularly in the military. However, to think that one cannot share his or her faith is a mistaken opinion. I have led a handful of sailors to Christ and shared Jesus with others that didn’t accept him. It is definitely possible…but not without being bold.


Granted, we don’t want to smother people with Christ. He draws people to himself in a variety of ways. However, without your loved-one being bold when the Holy Spirit gives the go-ahead, that person might not see Christ. It is vital, therefore, to pray for boldness on the part of your service member.


God, please lead my loved-one as he/she goes about the day. If there is someone you want them to meet and lead to Jesus, please help him/her to be bold! Let my service member see how vital it is to share the saving blood with others! I pray for opportunities also, that they would come to my loved-one, and that he/she would respond as you move—Amen.

MPW#3 Pray for Believing Friends


Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron,
       so one man sharpens another.



On my ship, I would be hard pressed to show evidence that even 5% of the crew is born again. What does this mean for us as believers? It means that very few people are going to understand how I feel. Most people don’t care if I struggle with lust (and wouldn’t judge me if I gave in to it), alcohol, or anything else. Most people also wouldn’t stick up for me if I was being attacked for my faith. Most people won’t understand why something bothers me the way it does. Hence the need for Christian friends.


Having unbelievers for friends is important. We simply must if we are going to build the type of relationships that can lead to sharing our faith. However, I also value the believers on my ship that will understand when I just need someone who knows what I’m going through. There is nothing like having someone you know you can go to with a problem, a concern, or a prayer need. That is why we are praying so early on for a believing friend for our warriors.


Heavenly Father,


The military is a hard place to be for those who believe in you. Yet you call many to serve the USA and you at the same time. As those in the military go through their day, please provide them someone to talk to, to fellowship with, and to minister with. You know how vital it is to have a brother or sister to lean on, and this is what we pray for on behalf of our Sailors, Airmen, Soldiers, Marines, and Coastguardsmen.


In Christ’s Name,


Amen


MPW#2 Pray for a Pure Heart

Pray for Purity


Psalm 51:10
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
       and renew a steadfast spirit within me.


As a sailor, I will always deal with keeping a clean heart (maybe you do too?). It’s not always based on lustful temptations either. Sometimes I am simply overwhelmed with the sheer number of things that must be done, each of them begging to be the main concern. Yet I must remain focused on what is true. I desperately need a pure heart that isn’t infected with this world. It’s really the first thing that must happen if I’m going to serve my country with any hope of serving God at the same time.


So many distractions come into our lives, military and civilian alike, that it is sometimes hard to realize just what our priorities should be. If we have any real hope at all of maintaining a Godly stand in the military, we need the clean heart and a right spirit that can sift through our emotions and feelings as well as these competing concerns. Please pray with me today that our military men and women would have a clean heart.


Dear Father,
Today, I lift up the hearts of those who serve us in the military. They need us praying for them. They face temptations and competing priorities all day whether on ship, in the air, or on land. Each of these priorities and temptations could damage the walk for You and stunt their personal growth. Please guide those who serve you as well as serving in the US Military. Give them a clean heart and renew their spirit.
In your holy Name,
Amen

MPW#1 Pray for those who Minister to the Military

Ephesians 6:18:
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Military Prayer Week kicks off today a scant four days after the Fort Hood shooting and I want to start by encouraging everyone to pray for those who reach the military. The churches in the Killeen/Fort Hood area are undoubtedly facing many people who need support at the moment. It is now that believers all across the country need to band together and pray for the many pastors, families, and Christians in the area who will have an opportunity to reach those who now have questions. 


In fact, take a moment to pray for any church or organization in the area of a military installation which attempts to reach military folks with the Gospel. Those who ministry to the military are in the very unique situation of having one foot in the military world (through ministry) and one foot in the civilian world (via church). Bridging that gap requires patience, perseverance, and grace. 


Father,
Churches that reach out to the military community are vital to reach those who need you most. They can present a home for the nomadic service member who is often very far from home. Churches often provide families of deployed personnel with vital services and support that they need. For those reasons, and so many more, we pray that you will support and lift up those who lift up our military. 
In your holy name,
Amen.

Military Prayer Week Starts Monday!

Fort Hood had a major shooting yesterday. Soldiers and Marines are in harms way on any given day in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sailors face dangers as they ferry supplies, drop bombs, and patrol to support fellow service members and protect the sea lanes. Coastguardsmen and women set sail to protect our shores every day from potential terrorist attack. Air Force pilots and support crews work feverishly to keep planes in the air to support our men and women overseas. 


Into those situations step believers. Some of them are active duty, some reservists or guardsmen, some are civilians at churches or with parachurch ministries. All of them have a chance to turn the world around. All of them need your prayer.


Are you able? Are you willing?

Thoughts on Theology

I am working on a master's degree through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. I'm struggling hard with my current course, THEO 525 (Systematic Theology I) because it is almost all theory and almost zero practical application. I complained to my chaplain but a few days ago that I wasn't getting anything out of this class because I just didn't think it was important to know the difference between redaction criticism and reader-response criticism. He smiled and said something like he has said to me in the past (Seminary is an educational institution...or something like that).

The fact is that in a short time (OPSEC keeps me from telling you when), I will be leading a worship service and facilitating two Bible studies. I'm sure that we'll have numerous discussions as well between various "members" of our little group. You know what that means? It means I'll be in my element. It's being the average saint. It's putting the theoretical to the test, if there is such a thing, and no one is going to be concerned about higher or lower criticism.

Yes, yes, of course, various criticisms are very important. I'm not disputing that fact. My concern is the amount of time at which we study these. Don't get caught up so much in how to study the Bible or what is the best way to do this or that. All of that is theory. At some point, you'll just have to do it.

And I'll tell you how it goes when I'm done!

An Average Saint

I've always wanted to be needed; to be important. Recognition, status, power…you name it and I've wanted it at some point in my life. God, knowing how much damage that would cause me, has been very consistent in giving me regular jobs to do that the average saint does. 


One of my dreams had always been to lead some great ministry or pastor a church. I've never done either of those. Recently, I've realized (finally) that God hasn't asked me to do either of those. For over four years, I've been trying to reach my fellow sailors on board the USS Antietam, a cruiser out of San Diego. I've made lots of friendships, both with believers and unbelievers. Some of those relationships have led to opportunities for the Gospel, and I'm grateful for all of them. Three sailors have accepted Christ over the course of my time on the Antietam. 


The amazing, and humbling thing is that those men didn't come to Christ as a result of any preaching I did or my leadership. The two that I was very involved in coming to the Lord did so because of relationships. The third essentially rejected my message, only to later accept Christ at the Rock Church in San Diego after our deployment. Any part I had in his salvation was based on a mutual respect and concern between us, not a powerful sermon.


You know what that means? It means that I don't have to be called to be some kind of super-Christian. I'm just an average saint, but God uses us all the time. I'm so grateful for that. He'll use you too, if you let him.


There is hope for you too…you don't have to be a superhero either, to be a super saint in God's army!