Christmas Time

You know,

This Christmas was an interesting one. It was also a hard one. I miss my grandpa, the man I have always considered my dad. Christmas is not the same without him. But with that said, I love the family that I still have. During Christmas time, presents have never been a super big deal to me. I know that financially my family may not be as good as others, but that never has been anything that bothers me. Worldly goods only go so far, but my family puts their heart in anything they give me. For that I am thankful. I mean I did get a decent bit of money for Christmas, but all of that will be spent on text books for next semester, but the important thing was the family time we had. I needed this, I love my family. They help get me through a lot of junk.

I am looking forward to this next year. God has been equipping me for something big. I have been going through a period where I have not been in the frontlines of spiritual warfare. I actually have been being refilled by God, being able to rest, and prepare. This has been interesting, and nice, because I have never experienced such a period. I am a General, someone who leads, and looks forward to battle, but even I have to be poured into. I do so much pouring into others, that it is hard at times to receive my pouring into, but God has done this for me during this period. I am ready to walk into the promise God has for me, and I am willing to do this whenever and however and with whatever it takes.

It is time!

Love you guys,

Big Ron

Probably The Best Birthday Weekend Ever

You know,

Reflecting on this weekend, I have realized that this is probably the best birthday weekend I have ever had. It is not about the material goods, honestly it has never been about that, but really the people made a difference. For one having over 160 people wish me happy birthday was great; knowing that that many people if not more care about me. It shows that I am at least doing something right in my life. To top it off I had the best weekend in my life, and I spent it with some of the best people I know. For the first time in 20 years I spent my birthday away from home, now of course I miss my people at home, but this was an experience that I needed. It is a part of growing up. One of my favorite things this weekend was spending time with the teaching fellows here at CSU. We had a great cookout/sleep over on Friday night filled with games, food, and movies. It was great spending quality time with these people. I care about them greatly, and I feel that they too feel the same way. I don't think words can describe the feelings I felt with them, and these are not perverse feelings or anything like that, but a feeling of truly being understood. I love entertaining people, cooking for people, and just talking and spending time with people and this was a great bonding experience. Then Saturday night, spending time with my fraternity brothers and some of the sisters, well I would not trade that experience. I honestly know that it was meant for me to join PKP, and for once I feel like I belong. This is important, because it has been hard for me to gain that feeling. It's good having a group of guys that I can spiritually bond with, as well as enjoy being around and doing whatever. Even if that is just playing video games or talking. And today, getting to go to dinner with the teaching fellows, and take pictures and fellowship was nice. I feel like we are growing closer together as a group which is great, and I have been developing bonds with many people in that group. Then after that, going to applebees with some of my closest friends, just because to hang out and be together, how could I even want to trade that experience. It is nice being able to grow close to people without the fear of being hurt or rejected, being able to be myself, and just hang out. So thats why I say it was probably the best birthday weekend of my life this weekend!

Love you guys,

Big Ron

All it took was a few chances

Okay,

So I have been really slack as of late updating my blog. Mainly because I have been super super busy. However I thought it was fitting with me turning 20 this year that I at least do some kind of post. I think this is a great opportunity to do some reflecting on my teenage years.

Let's just say that I may have lived the most unusual of teenage years you may have ever heard. Actually it is so interesting that I really want to write a novel one day. I am a believer that if you have a story you should share it; to bring glory to God, and to bring hope to those who are going through similar stuff that you have been through.

There was a time when I asked why? Why me? Why do I have to be the one to go through all of this stuff? Why do I have to grow up way before I am supposed too? Why was I chosen to do this? I will be honest, I struggled with this for a good deal of time, but with the love of certain family members, and the friendship of those closest to me, and with the help of some great youth pastors, and answers from a mighty God it was revealed to me.

With that being said I think I need to say thank you. Because if it where not for people taking a CHANCE on me I wouldn't be in the position I am in right now. That's right you might look at me and say thats a solid person, he must have had everything growing up...but this is not so. If it were not for the people who took a chance on me I would not have anything. It started at a little old methodist church in a little community called Sampit. Where a church body gave a young teenager a chance to serve God. Where a 21 year old pastor gave me a chance to do things people my age usually don't get the chance to do, and where a grandfather, saw the gifts that God had given me and decided to disciple and mentor me in them. It is all about the chance. You know what I love about God the most though, it's that He likes to take the underdog and give him big chances and put him in positions to do great things. At an early age I got the opportunity to preach at that small church...and it was then I knew the power that God has, and how I could be used to do great things.

At this stage of my life though, God called me to move forward, but this required me to leave that small church. This was something that I really did not want to hear but having praying over it, and discussing it with my grandpa, I decided to follow the call. I got an opportunity to serve at the Church of God, where I def. learned of the gifts of the spirit. I went to 2 youth camps that greatly influenced me to pursue things such as prophesy and speaking in the Spirit. I got the chance to be a leader there, and actually spoke for a series of weeks while there was a transition between youth pastors. They took a chance on me. Thank You! Then, I went to the First Assembly of God. I became very involved in the youth group. Became a leader there, and did things that helped me greatly. Supported by a super youth group, who backed me in things that I did, we saw growth spiritually, which is important. I had the opportunity to go to nationals and do a short sermon, went to conventions, and other things, that helped develop me spiritually. I got the opportunity to preach in that church twice, and lets just say that had to be some of the best experiences in my life. So Thank You for taking a chance on Big Ron!

Then lets just say I found a home between the involvement I had in the last two churches. This was at Georgetown Community Church. Oh man, how do I begin to describe this? There is so much that has happened there. At this church God gave me the gift of speaking in tongues. Oh man, that was an experience. There is a youth pastor there that gave me a chance, I remember him looking at me at one of the first times at the youth group there and saying "Big Ron, there is greatness inside of you, God is going to use you to reach to many people, He is going to bless you greatly." Oh how this came true. I love this youth group. I have been there to see friends come and go, and new ones being raised up! I am proud to say that I am a spiritual leader there. Oh yeah how can I forget about other things I have done there. I started out as a camera man, great experience there. Then came the biggest opportunity I have ever received. It came this summer, after the pastors being able to observe the gifts that God has in me and deciding to take a CHANCE. I was offered an internship at the church as a type of children's minister. This was what I had been wanting for so long, and someone gave me the CHANCE. They told me that this was my "baby" that I was in charge of it. I fell in love with a great group of kids. I really learned why youth pastors do what they do, and how rewarding it was. All I can say is thank you.

Of course, there are many more things, but why tell them all just yet. Like I said thank you Scott J., Papa, Pastor Josh, Pastor Steve, Pastor Benji, Pastor Chris, and to all the people who gave me a chance. Without you giving me that opportunity, where would I be?

To everyone who reads this, I love you.

Big Ron