“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. John 15:16.
I will always remember these words as my father-in-law had written those words for me in a book on prayer he gave me shortly after my transition to FCA after serving for 7 years on staff at a local church. We were in Pennsylvania visiting that summer and he and I had taken a morning walk up the hollow road behind their house discussing all things important: Jesus, Marriage, Parenting and how badly the Pittsburgh Pirates were doing in baseball. He gave me that book shortly after we returned from that walk.
Those words carry a lot of value for me as I see just how sincerely the Lord has challenged me and all of us to get a grip of our personal relationship with Jesus Christ and hang on for the ride of our lives.
If you take time to scroll through our website you will see a TON of great things that have happened this past year, so I will highlight just a few pieces of “FRUIT”.
“Fruit” from this Winter/Spring 2010:
1) Have been in the process of mentoring and counseling a former FCA UTD Collegiate athlete and her fiancé as they prepare for marriage this fall. Stefanie and I have been asked to conduct the ceremony. What an honor!
2) Saw a young man severely hurt in soccer practice one day at Garland HS. Go through what appeared to be very slow rehab- and then BOOM! God showed up and he was out of the hospital in a very short time frame!!!
3) Ran the White Rock marathon with a coaching friend. We started training in August and the day it arrived was nothing short of challenge. As we walked/ran the last few miles we observed the paraplegic athletes who despite the physical challenges were going to finish all 26.2 miles. Left me speechless!
4) Just experienced the faithfulness of God as we simply had no money to cover groceries, incidentals the last two weeks of June. We laid that need before God and meal after meal literally showed up on our doorsteps. PRICELESS!
5) Had an emergency trip to Laredo as my Dad simply went down on the job. Thinking this might be my last year with my Dad I got to see him leave the hospital after a long procedure of his doctor working on his heart. The doctor is a believer so I think that HAS TO BE A FACTOR!!!
6) Just this past week observed 750 athletes hearing the message of Jesus Christ at our Sports Camp held at Texas A&M. Worship at Kyle Field- very special!