*I wrote this blog on February 13th, 2012 and was hoping to post it that same day, but the snow was overtaking us once again. You will still enjoy it though.
Let me tell you a story about a young man…
This young freshman in high school had only been attending his church for about 3 months, and now he found himself sitting in the local Burger King, following a Wednesday night youth gathering with the local “sister church” in town. Most of the other kids in the youth group lived around town and had already been dropped off at home, but this young man and one other kid lived way outside of the city limits and was getting a lift home from his youth Pastor and his youth Pastor’s wife. Before heading home though they made a quick stop to grab a bit to eat… The young man was still getting to know the youth Pastor and his wife, but they were quickly becoming very close and building a great relationship.
After they finished eating, the youth Pastor’s Wife and the other kid loaded up in her white Rodeo and she ran him home, while the young man and his youth Pastor loaded up into the old, grey, Ford truck and headed to the church to meet the young mans Mother. She would be there soon to pick her son up and it was beginning to get late so there they went, driving down highway 64 west on this late February evening. As they drove, the youth Pastor began to ask the young man questions about the Lord and if he had ever asked Jesus into his heart as his savior. The longer they talked, the more the young mans heart began to stir and he began to wonder exactly who this Jesus was that his youth Pastor was talking about… The young man had grown up in church most of his life and had even been baptized, but as they journeyed down the road he started to reflect over his life… Had he ever truly given his heart to Jesus? He thought so. He had even prayed a prayer in vacation Bible school and went to the altar with his friends, but what if…?
Before too long, the youth Pastor and the young man pulled into the parking lot of their little white church and parked in the second parking spot on the left, next to the church sign. The young man’s Mother had not yet arrived, so the two talked a little bit longer and then finished up their conversation. The boy was still not sure where he stood on all the questions, but that was ok, because they youth Pastor didn’t want to pressure him into making a decision. He simply told the young man that anytime he ever needed him or needed to talk, he was available and was there for him. The young man pondered these things in his heart and continued to think about everything. On the outside everything seemed fine, but on the inside he didn’t have peace and knew what he needed to do. He wondered what would happen if he died that night… Where would he go? Did he know this Jesus that his youth Pastor talked about or was he just going through the motions and playing like everything was ok? He was a pretty good kid. He didn’t do a lot of bad stuff. Wasn’t that enough…?
They finished with a prayer, and next thing they knew the young man’s Mother pulled up in the parking lot and it was time for the two to say goodnight. As the young man stepped out of the truck, the youth Pastor smiled at him and one more time, reminded him that the offer was always open. The boy said thanks, closed the door and waved as he got into his Mother’s car.
The ride home for the boy was a long one. Not because of distance, but because inside his chest, his heart continued to stir. He thought about their conversation, set quietly, and prayed the entire way home. As soon as they got home, the young man went to his bedroom, closed his door behind and fell to his knees. He began to weep and ask the Lord what he should do. After a few minutes, he picked his phone up, found the youth Pastor’s number, and called him. The youth Pastor was anticipating the call, and told the young man that he would be to pick him up in just a few minutes.
Before long the youth Pastor and his quickly becoming, new pal, were making there way back down the road.
The next 2 hours or so they spent sitting on the floor at the right side of the altar in the little white church house. The young man asked question after question about the Lord and what it meant to truly be a follower of Christ. Eventually their Pastor joined them as well. Finally the young man, the youth Pastor, and the Pastor all found themselves deep in conversation and prayer and after a while, they emerged from the church doors… All three now followers of Christ. The young man had given his heart to Jesus! His life from this point on, would never again be the same…
That’s a pretty powerful story. I don’t know if you have ever heard it or not, but that young man in the story… that was me.
That was a life changing day for me… I would have never of thought back then, that I would be sitting here in Romania, traveling the world, preaching the Gospel, and writing this blog…
Hard to believe that was 10 years ago today…
Sherry & I leading worship at VBS
Jason & I working on my senior project… the pony!
Thank You Lord for never giving up on me and for calling me Your son… and…
Thank you, Jason and Sherry… for believing in me… I am forever grateful for y’all pouring into each one of us over the years…
Love y’all.
