It's been a long summer, so the elders gave me the week off. Sabrina, Graydon and I went to a Cowboy Church not too far from where we live. It was certainly cowboy, from the boots, hats, music, horses, and even the 10 commandments:)

Graydon in his cowboy boots ready to head to the cowboy church

Graydon's new popsicle

Taking a hike with the fam

Block party at our house, we had 55 of our neighbors stop by and had a great time getting to know them

















Daddy and baby g taking a nap

The Giving Tree and Turning 30

I just talked to my mom this morning and she was telling me that the big old apple tree in our backyard had finally fallen over. It had been rotted within for years after putting up a good fight. Every year that tree would bare hundreds of apples that my sister and I grudgingly picked up a lot of the time. My mom would always yell at me since I thought it was more fun to throw them across the yard and try to get them over the fence than to just pick them up and put them into old paper grocery bags. I usually got about half of the apples over the fence and my mom would mow over the other half that didn’t cross that green chain linked fence. That tree provided us shade from the hot summer sun, held up a hammock that we used to swing on, was our canopy for more parties than I can remember and now is firewood for an Amish guy down the street to keep his family warm in the winter. I think of the book “The Giving Tree” that was read to me as a boy and now I read it to my boy. I can only help but think of the greatest giver of all in God everytime I read that story.

As I turned 30 last month I was reminded at all that has been given and entrusted to me. I have wonderful friends and people in my life that have helped shape me into the man I am today. I have lived all over the country and experienced so much is such a short amount of time. I know there is still a lot of growth to come, but am grateful at what my life looks like today. I have served a faithful God even though I have not always reciprocated that faithfulness. Wherever you find yourself today no matter how young or old you are, take a step back and be grateful. God the giver of life wants you to know how special you are. Some of you may feel like an old apple tree that may look good on the outside, but you are rotting within. Some of you have already fallen over and everything has been exposed, what a great opportunity to realize where your trust and hope is fully lying in. There is a maker that can give you life like you have never experienced before now and forever, will you call out to Him today?

Daddy's little Cowboy

Graydon's first pair of cowboy boots. Thanks Aunt Kristen and Uncle George!

Look what I can do

International Youth Convention in San Antonio

Our little Texan
















Getting a picture by the Riverwalk in downtown San Antonio



















Graydon at his first Christian Concert at IYC. Don't worry Grandparents, he had earplugs in and those big set of headphones on so he didn't even flinch at the noise.

Graydon in his new Hawaiian outfit his Uncle Elton gave him.





















Always helps to have an extra hand at folding the clothes.



















Our youth put on a morning camp for the kids in our Church neighborhood called Camp Oak Cliff. Everyone had a fun time getting wet and learning about the love of Jesus.












Our Little Firecracker, Graydon was all set for 4th of July with his new t-shirt. He was mesmerized by the fireworks, but enjoyed them more by watching them through the window inside our friend's house.

Trip to Phoenix

Graydon and I got to meet Grandma Caldwell (Sabrina's Dad's Mom) for the first time. What a sweetheart!














Sabrina got to visit her best friend Shauna and her little boy Simon. The boys don't know it yet, but they are going to be best friends too:)











Grandpa Rousay took Gradyon to his first baseball game at the Arizona Diamondbacks stadium. The D Backs lost 15-1, but it was still a neat experience to check out a new ballpark.











Visit to the Arizona Cardinals football stadium with my brother-in-law Jon. The temperature was 115 degrees at the time, so we didn't stay outside for too long.

How excited are you about reading?

Teachable?

One thing I share all the time with my youth is the importance of always being a student. If we desire for God to shape and mold us into His image, we need to remain teachable. Lately I have been noticing that I am not practicing what I am preaching. There are times when I do not see a teachable spirit within me. I do not dig into scripture on a consistent basis. I rely more on myself to make choices and decisions than coming to God in prayer. I want to pick and choose when I want to learn and what I want to learn, which is an arrogant attitude that has no place in the heart of a believer. If you are like me at times, that way of life will prevent us from so many teachable moments throughout the day that God has for us.

Proverbs 3:5-7 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.” To have a teachable heart, we must come to terms that we do not know it all and never will. Proverbs goes on later to say that, “He who trusts in himself is a fool”. Where does your trust lie today? Whatever is going on right now, there is a bigger reason and purpose behind it. The Creator has a lesson for you today, do not miss it!

Graydon 3 months old

This is how you call a WaAAambulance

Graydon goes to Ohio

In early May we took a trip to Ohio so that Graydon could meet my family for the first time. The pictures are of Graydon and I with his Aunt Chrissy and Uncle George and all his cousins, Graydon and I and his Grandpa, all the grandkids, and Graydon and his Grandma.

Graydon goes to N. Carolina

We took this trip in April when Graydon was almost 2 months old. This was his first time meeting Sabrina's family (except his Grandma who was there for his birth). The pictures are of Graydon with his Grandpa, Aunt Venessa and Grandma, and Aunt Kristina.

Trying to be a good sport

It’s been a difficult softball season as we have gone 0-6 and many of the games haven’t even been that close. Last week, a team that we played was beating us pretty good, and to make matters worse the pitcher from the opposing team was showing poor sportsmanship. I wanted to give the pitcher a piece of my mind and was just about to, when I realized I would be doing the exact same thing as him. I would be setting a bad example to my teammates and anyone else around if I would have shared out loud what I was thinking. It was quite difficult to hold back, but I asked the Lord to give me the strength to bite my tongue. This growing moment showed me how much I have changed through the years. Whenever I got irritated or upset in the past I would just let my emotions fly, which was not always the best thing, but I am not who I was.

2 Cor 10:5 says, “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ”. Our flesh has a mind of its own, and we need to bring everything to the Lord, before we blurt out whatever it is we want. Words are powerful and have the ability to encourage or tear down a person. Maybe you know someone right now that has pushed you to the brink and all you want to do is go off on them. I encourage you to bring the situation before God and He will show you what you need to do. Sometimes it’s better to not say anything at all, than regret what you said.

Graydon 10 Weeks Old

Graydon Talking at 10 Weeks

Can't Fathom

Below is a picture of mine and my son's feet. The more I look at my son Graydon, the more I fall in love with him. Yesterday, I got choked up as I was overwhelmed with love for him and thinking about how awesome it is to be his daddy. My son brings a joy into my life like I have never experienced before. His smiles melt my heart, the silly little things he does makes me laugh and my wife and I prayed for a snuggler and boy did we get one! The crazy thing is, I don't think Graydon will ever comprehend fully the love his mommy and daddy have for him. It makes me realize that I will never comprehend my own parents love for me, even though I am one now. I will also never be able to fully comprehend the love my Heavenly Father has for me. As my son's smiles melt my heart, so God melts when we smile at Him and are grateful for the life He has blessed us with. God takes great delight in His children as we bring Him much joy and laughter. The love God has for us is hard for most of us to understand. We try to think of all the reasons why God couldn't possibly love us, yet that doesn't mean it makes it any less real. We will never fathom the love God has for us, but today He wants to tell you that, "He's not ashamed of you, has never regretted once in creating you and is madly and deeply in love with you!"

1 Month Old

A Kingdom Heart

Many of you probably haven't heard me preach in awhile or ever, so if you would like to hear the message I gave on Palm Sunday during our main service copy and past the link below. The message is about 25 minutes long.

http://www.nlbf.org/nlbf/index.php?id=143&tx_wecsermons_pi1[showUid]=103&tx_

"Relax Son"

A story from a fellow Pastor that I shared today in our sunrise service, be blessed-Jeremy

"A father and son were traveling down a country road on afternoon in the spring time when suddenly a bee flew in the window. Being deathly allergic to bee stings, the boy began to panic as the bee buzzed all around inside the car. Seeing the horror on his child’s face, the father reached out and caught the bee in his hand. Soon, he opened his hand and the bee began to buzz around once again. Again, the boy began to panic. The father reached over to his son, and opened his hand showing him the stinger still in his palm. “Relax, son,” the father said, “I took the sting, the bee can’t hurt you anymore.”

The empty tomb is God’s way of saying to us; “Relax, my child, I took the sting, death can’t hurt you anymore.” Why was the tomb empty? Because Jesus was alive and the promise to us is that we too can live even if we die. That is promise of Easter."

Graydon's Beautiful Smile

Two weeks old with the hiccups

Lessons Learned about God by Being a Parent

God has been teaching me a lot about His love these past 2 weeks of being a parent. It says, in Genesis 1 that we are made in His image. Graydon definitely looks like his daddy and I’m sure some of his mommy’s traits will be coming sooner or later. We do know that Graydon loves to sleep like his mommy, so he at least has that of hers☺. God not only desires that we look like Him, but act like Him.

God says in Matthew 6 that He is our provider and will meet all our needs. My son totally relies on his mother and me to meet his every need, whether he realizes it or not. I often forget how much I truly rely on God for every single thing in my life and how that goes unappreciated.

In Psalm 34, God’s eyes are on the righteous and His ears are open to their cry. Sabrina and I can’t stop staring at Graydon and it’s amazing how just a whimper from our son is enough to practically make us jump out of bed. God’s eyes are truly on His people and He listens and cares about every single cry.

Zephaniah 3 says God rejoices over His people with singing and 1 John 3 lets us know that God lavishes His love upon His family. What a fitting reminder as we love on our son, how God loves on His children as well.

God promises that He takes us under His wing where we find refuge in Psalm 91 and that His faithfulness is our shield and protection. It’s amazing at what a protective papa and mama you can be and if you mess with our kid you mess with us. My protection can only go so far and it is God who is the ultimate protector. You mess with God’s child and you got a fight on your hands.

Lastly, God shares with us in Psalm 139 that His thoughts for us are as countless as the sand of the seashore. It’s pretty hard to concentrate and get my mind off my wife and newborn child when I am away from them, yet God never stops taking His mind off of us. I am humbled by the lessons I have already learned as a parent and God’s incomprehensible love for His children, not just for our sake, but for His glory and because that is just the God that we serve. If you question God’s love, being a parent is a great reminder of who our creator really is.

5 Days Old Video