Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving!  Here are some of the things I am thankful for this morning;

• My wife, Julie.  She is my best friend and I'm extremely blessed to be married to her.
• My three daughters.  I'm blown away that God has allowed me to be a daddy to these three girls.  They are amazing in so many ways.
• My family - my parents, brother and his family, Julie's parents and her brother and family, grandparents, and all the other extended family.  
• Good food.  Are you kidding!  We eat so much good food on Thanksgiving - so many of my favorite things - how could I not mention the food.
• Health.  I'm thankful that I can walk, run, climb, and do so many things that we often take for granted.
• Friends.  Everyone needs good friends.  The kind that are there if you need them.  
• Mentors.  The people God has placed in my life that have helped me become what I am today.  These people also help give me wise council - something I have needed much of lately.
• American Citizenship.  I've been out of the country - if you haven't been you should.  I am so thankful that I am an American!
• Difficulties.  I don't like them but realize they make me stronger and make me rely on my Lord even more.
• God's Word.  The bible is amazing and I'm blown away more and more of the impact it has made and is making in my life.  
• Changed Lives.  I'm thinking of the people God has allowed me see changed through His power and grace.  I'm praying for more of this one!
• My relationship with Jesus Christ.  He has changed me.  I'm not perfect - there is more changing to be done.  He is faithful, forgiving, loving, strong, all knowing, and my Creator.

There is more.  But that's it for now.  It's time to eat!:)

Porn

I read the following today on Mark Driscoll's blog.  Porn is a huge  problem in our nation and in the Church. If you are a man or the father of a teenage son let me make a couple of suggestions.  First, read this book. If you need a copy, let me know and I will get you one.

Secondly, go to XXXChurch.com and download the free computer protection software (x3 watch) - feel free to put my email address down as an accountability partner.

It's high time we as men take this situation seriously.  And, it's high time the church steps up and deals with this problem!  Thank you Mark for caring enough to put this information together and for making it available for FREE.

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If you look at porn, have looked at porn, or know someone that looks at porn—download this book, print it out, and read it.

This book is now available to download and print as many copies as you like. It's short and should be cheap to print. We'll be making the book available for purchase soon.

A Few Ideas

• Get a few friends together and deal honestly with each other about the subjects of each chapter.
• Once you're done reading, pass it on to a friend.
• Give it to the counseling pastor at your church as a resource.

Out of Africa

I returned late Wednesday night from a 12 day trip into Northern Africa.  Our purpose was to do humanitarian work while building bridges with people.  The trip was extremely successful!  I was personally stretched in many ways and once again discovered the importance of following Christ in all things, a loving wife and family, freedom of religion, the little things we take for granted, and friends who are truly committed to you.  

Just before leaving - one young couple in our church had me stop by their house to pick up a couple of things for the journey.  I was given several helpful items for the trip and something that I won't soon forget.  Adam gave me a small dog tag that he had carried while serving in Iraq as a US soldier.  On one side of the tag it read the following: "I will be strong and courageous, I will not be terrified or discouraged; for the Lord my God is with me wherever I go." Joshua 1:9

I carried it with me at all times and found myself pulling it out several times a day.  The picture above was taking at 6,500 feet up in the Atlas mountains at a villages water source.  You can see the stream of mountain water flowing just behind me.  

On the other side of the world - in a dark and sometimes dangerous place - I found new strength & hope in God's word.  Thank you Adam & Liz for sharing!