Reflections at 2:30 am

Often I feel as though sometimes the Church (universal) has forgotten that Christ is a friend of sinners. Now, before you start judging that previous statement, allow me to develop the idea for you. Speaking from personal experience, I often forget when I look around and see those who are living without Christ that I was one of them before he entered my life. Wondering and searching for what he has for me. If you are reading my blog and you are not a believer in Christ, allow me to state that the void you are experiencing in your life; that empty feeling you have while searching for who you are and what you are supposed to do in your life, comes from the lack of Christ within your life. If you are struggling and searching for answers, please feel free to contact me. my email is gtownfootball62@yahoo.com; I would love to help you discover the awesomeness that exists within a relationship with the maker of everything. He is the one who will sustain you, direct you, and love you when you feel as though no one else can or will.

At times, I have found myself pointing my finger towards those without Christ, thinking about how awful the things that they are doing truly are. However, the truth is that before Christ, I was one of them. Let's be completely honest, Christ came to this earth for the sinner. He came for the broken at heart, the lost, and the hurting. He came for the misguided, those who hate, and the ones who did not want anything to do with him. The Church should have their doors open wide for these people. The power that exists within the Gospel says everything that we can not. It penetrates through walls that people have enclosed around their hearts; and these people need to be welcomed at our churches. By having the doors open, the lost will be able to discover who Christ is. He is someone who loves you, no matter what your past says. He will right the wrongs. What person is not searching for this? Those without Christ do not need us looking down upon them, they already experience that in the world. We all at some point in our lives as Christians are guilty of this, even I. I do not write my blog to say that I am a perfect example of a follower of Christ, because that would be incorrect. However, I write it to reveal the things that are on my heart and mind, to share them with all who are willing to read it. It is my goal that God will use it to reveal to you how what is in my blog applies to your life. If it helps you an any way let all the glory be to God. I am not writing to bring glory to myself in any way, shape or form. My desire is to reach the lost for Christ, and to help any believer struggling overcome what they are going through. Don't hesitate to comment on here or my Facebook, or send me any emails.

Love you guys,

Big Ron

A Look Inside My Life

It has been a long time since I have been able to update my blog. Sadly, I have neglected it. I have not dedicated the time to update it. However, so much has happened since my last posting. I turn 22 on Wednesday. It really is crazy how time flies by.

Tonight, I find myself sitting at my computer desk at listening to Casting Crown's new song "Courageous." It really hit me hard in the face. In a way I have lost my desire to be used to break the chains that bind those around me. I have been a youth pastor now for nearly a year and a half. I have found it to be the most taxing and spiritually draining experience, especially since this past summer. At times, I have even neglected my relationship with God. It has been hard for me to spend my own personal quiet time with Him. I have been so occupied with things going on around me, and with that my spiritual life has suffered. I was warned about this before I took the call that God sent my way. There is so much responsibility that comes with this position that God has blessed me with. I have lost that fire, that I had when I began; The messages I have been preaching have not been reflecting how God truly presses in on me. I need to be honest; I am blessed with a great bunch of youth. We have had our ups and downs; the high points and low points. I can honestly say though, that all of us have learned a lot through this though.

I still would like to claim that being a youth pastor has been the greatest experience in my life. I have been able to make an impact in the lives of every youth that has stepped through Ringel Heights Baptist Church. I am not asking for any glory in any of this however, I know where it all goes. I am grateful however, that God chose me to do this. He could have sent the call to a multitude of other people, yet he still chose me. How awesome is that! What a blessing that I had the opportunity to represent Him and His name.

I have a lot of questions to answer and decisions to make within this next semester here at CSU. I know what God's plan for my life. That is the one thing I do know. The question proposed to me though is where is the next step. I am a senior in college. I know I am going to school to be a teacher, and I do not regret that decision. However, I know what God's greater call for my life is. It is just difficult because it is going to require me to step outside of my comfort zone, and to make a life altering decision. I know he is calling me to seminary. I know that. However, to which one and within which denomination? I now know that God can truly use me within whatever denomination or whatever church he calls me too...but my question is....which one? I don't know if anyone reading this will know what I am going through. Let's be honest, I have truly never been rooted in a denomination. I have been all over, Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal. All of them for extensive periods of my life. I just want to know where He is calling me to be at. It is such a struggle, one that is hard to bare. I just want to be in the will of God. That is all. I have been spending more time in the Word, and I have been praying, but still there has been no answer. I know it will come in his time, I just pray that I will remain patient and receptive to whatever the answer is. Please pray for me, that is the one thing that I am asking you tonight.

Thanks for taking time to read,

Big Ron