The Last Days?

The most horrendous attack on Jewish people since the Holocaust happened this past week. It was a cowardly attack by the terrorist group Hamas using the most barbaric, inhumane tactics to kill, mutilate, rape and kidnap innocent Israelis. 

If this wasn't despicable enough, we have had to watch disgusting protests by American citizens blaming Israel for the attacks and defending these monsters. How can people so blind?

Israel has declared war on Hamas and has vowed to wipe them out. All eyes are on Iran and Hezbollah to see if they step in to intervene. Many believe that Iran is behind the attacks.

I truly believe we are living in the last of the last days and the Lord is returning soon! We know from Bible prophecy that Israel will play a key role in the return of Christ. Could we be witnessing the initial stages of those prophecies unfolding?

CLC Class of '24

I am so excited about our new CLC class of '24 arriving! We have three 3rd year students who will be graduating this year with their degree, their credentials and job placement assistance. We have seven 2nd years and ten 1st years! 

Matthew and Mariah have done such an incredible job pulling this program back together and putting it on a course for success and fruitfulness. I truly believe part of God's call upon our church is to raise up the next generation of pastors, missionaries, evangelists and para-church leaders! 

All In the Family

We have just hosted back-to-back family weekends here in Lafayette.

The first was the McDaniels family reunion. Donna's mom's side of the family have been getting together annually since her grandmother passed away. Most of the family is from North Louisiana, but part of the family is from Mobile, Alabama. Last year I suggested that Lafayette might be a good meet in the middle location and they took me up on it. It was great to hang out with Donna's immediate family along with her aunts, uncles, cousins and their families. We must have done a decent job hosting the get together because they have agreed to meet up in Lafayette again next year! 

Next, we hosted my cousin, Greg Ables and his mom, my Aunt Carolyn. Greg preached for me at Crossroads on Sunday and did an amazing job! Last year I had the distinct honor - along with another cousin, Rusty Blan - of officiating my Uncle Vernon's funeral. It was one of the greatest honors of my life. My Uncle Vernon was such a hero to me! He and Greg had come down several years ago and tag-team preached at one of our Fathers Day services. They preached on spiritual legacy - It was SO good! While we were in Tulsa for the funeral I told Greg I really wanted him to come back down to Lafayette and preach for me again. I'm so glad he agreed to come and that my Aunt Carolyn could come along with him. 

My brother Phil and his family came down to visit while Greg and Aunt Carolyn were here and we had an incredible time! We shared lots of laughs and sweet memories. I am so thankful for the incredible family God has given me both on my side and Donna's side! Other than God Himself, nothing in this life is more important than our family! I have always felt that way but as I get older, it has become more and more real to me! 

Lovey's Love Language

Donna and I just enjoyed a 10-day European Cruise. We were originally supposed to have some dear friends with us on the trip, but all three couples had to end up canceling. We decided to go ahead with the cruise and I am so glad we did! Traveling is my wife's love language! I often joke that Dr. Chapman left out one of the love languages when he wrote his best-selling book, The 5 Love Languages, because travel sure seems to be a love language for my wife! She is one happy camper when we are traveling - especially when we are experiencing new places and cultures. 

There were several stops on this cruise that were new for us - Greece, Croatia, Montenegro. Those costal locations are extremely beautiful! Croatia was especially clean and beautiful! It was definitely a place where we would enjoy spending a little more time. We had several stops in Italy and even though we have been to Italy before, we had not visited Sicily and we had not been to Naples. The problem with visiting new places on a cruise is you typically have just a few hours in that port and it's not enough time to experience the place like you would hope to! Our favorite stop on this trip was Olympia. Here's a pic of us at the site of the original Olympic games - So cool! 

Although we have visited Rome before, we booked an extra day in the city since it was where we flew in and out of. We were glad we did! It is such a great historic city and we enjoy it so much! We especially enjoy visiting the Colosseum and Forum! Here in the states we get excited about a couple hundred years of history - in Rome you are taking in THOUSANDS of years of history! It is an incredible experience. We also enjoyed revisiting Florence. Since we had spent a couple of days there in the past, we knew a good deal about Florence and were able to serve as impromptu tour guides for some friends we were with that day on our excursion! It was fun pointing out the things that were memorable for us on our first trip to this historic city! All the rich history, ancient artifacts and quaint little restaurants and cafes make this part of Europe so endearing! A trip that allows you to really experience the cities, immersed in the culture is the best way to do it, but the cruise wasn't a bad option! 

This was our second cruise aboard a Celebrity Cruise ship and it didn't disappoint! We have done a few cruises with Royal Caribbean and they're nice, but Celebrity is a step above for sure! The Celebrity Beyond is a beautiful ship and we enjoyed it a lot. The food was good, the entertainment was fun and the accommodations were plush. We really enjoyed just hanging out on the lounge chairs reading and soaking up a little vitamin D. I find that a cruise is the most relaxing vacation you can take. You really come home rested. After all, your accommodations, food and entertainment is all right there - so you get to relax and unwind! I sure love speaking Lovey's love language! 

For the Love of the Game

Several years ago I got back into the game of golf with the goal of playing for the rest of my life and getting better at the game. That all began with a gift of some good golf clubs and lessons. I added two serious factors to the new clubs and lessons - 1. I connected with a group of guys that I play regularly with that were comparable golfers and... 2. I committed to playing at least once a week. I have kept that commitment and my friends and I have had a lot of fun and we steadily get better. I started out rarely breaking 100, moved down through the nineties to the eighties and now I have played two rounds in the seventies! I am currently at a 12 handicap and enjoy the game so much! I find that the game relaxes me. I am a pretty competitive person, but golf is more about competing with yourself than it is with others - I like that. I got a new set of clubs last year and that really helped. Playing regularly helps me improve my swing and regularly work on things. It is great exercise and a wonderful time hanging out with close friends. I look forward to playing the rest of my life and I hope my grandkids will pick up the game and it will become something we can enjoy together one day! 

More World Changers

This past Sunday we recognized our CLC students in our services. Twelve wonderful young men and women crossed the stage to receive their Certificate of Discipleship (first year) or their Certificate of Leadership (second year). All seven first year students will be returning for a second year and three of our second year students will complete their degree next year!

Matt and Mariah Ackman have done an incredible job turning the school around! Out of all the setbacks our church suffered from the pandemic in 2020, the school got hit the hardest and we came very close to shutting it down. However, I believe God has given us a commission to help raise up the next generation of ministers and by God's grace we are rebuilding stronger than ever! It looks like we will have over twenty students enrolled this fall! 

I am so excited to see God raising up future pastors, youth pastors, kids pastors, worship leaders, missionaries and church planters through our school! We have alumni across the country doing incredible things for God and I am so proud of them! I can't wait to see where God will take the young men and women training with us today. 

Sliding Down at the 1 Yard Line

This past Sunday we enjoyed one of the best Super Bowls in recent history. The game was masterfully played by two incredible teams and it really seemed like whoever ended up with the ball last would be the winner of the game. The offenses were as exciting as expected with 73 combined points being scored. However, that doesn't mean the defenses were non-existent - both teams had great defensive strategy and every point scored required real grit and determination. At the end of the day, just like I assumed, the last team with the ball was the winning team. But the story is a little more dramatic than that. 

With less than two minutes to go in the 4th quarter, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes handed the pall off to Jerick McKinnon, who could have easily scored, but instead he purposefully slid down at the 1 yard line, allowing the Chiefs to run the clock down before kicking the winning field goal, leaving the Eagles virtually no time on the clock to try and even the score or win the game. Had McKinnon scored, the Eagles would have had ample time to make that attempt.

You have to know that Jerick McKinnon, like every kid who grew up playing the game, has always dreamed of scoring a touchdown in the Super Bowl. To do so would have given him a story to tell his children's children. but instead, McKinnon slid down at the 1 yard line because for a true team player, the name on the front of your jersey is more important than the name on the back of your jersey! 

Do we approach life and ministry that way? Do we make it about the team? Do we make it about everyone winning and not just our own personal accomplishments? We must not forget that there are times when winning means sliding down at the 1 yard line!