I’ve been known to jokingly use the phrase “Life’s a wash”. When I give a dollar, it will come back to me somehow. “Life’s a wash”. When something bad happens, something good follows “Life’s a wash”. When I birdie a hole, a bogey surely will follow. “Life’s a wash”! Well… all jokes aside I can’t say this is the case in my life. We are never close to “even” when we live in Christ. I am so thankful for the support and encouragement I have received. For those who have heard me share anything about this journey, you have probably heard me talk about community. As I have reflected back on my life it is so cool to see how people have impacted me and made huge influence on my life. If you are reading this blog I can assure you that you have made influence on my life and therefore are a part of this journey. Words cannot express how thankful I am to everyone who has already supported my calling. I do want to share something that happened a few weeks ago and recognize my fraternity brothers. Unbeknownst to me, an email from a buddy went out to all of my fraternity brothers explaining my recent calling. Within a week’s time my fraternity brothers donated half of my budget goal! Of course the financial security is a blessing. However, it is even more assuring knowing my boys are confirming this calling. That’s what true community is all about. Brothers seeing Christ working in each other’s life, confirming and encouraging and giving each other the confidence to follow Christ and surrender. Life will never be a wash when you have true community with Christ and others. You will always have more than you deserve. More encouragement, more blessings, more grace, more confirmation, more confidence, more joy, more peace, more love, etc…

Though I have no clue exactly how God will use me in South Africa, I hope and pray I can instill in these children the importance of true community. If these young men and women can experience community amongst themselves in Christ then life will not be a wash for them either. They too can experience a life of never ending grace and blessings.

“For this reason I kneel before the Father,from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:14-21

In hoc signo vinces