Discussing any and everything related to our culture.

I am at home, helping my wife prepare for a New Year’s Eve party we are having at our house.  The kids are downstairs (not making more messes to clean up) and my wife just ran to Target for a few last minute things.  I’m sitting here and for the first time really began pondering the fact that not only are we about to embark on a new year, we are about to embark on an entirely new decade.  A decade that is completely unwritten, a blank slate for us to write on and leave our mark.  I’m very excited for a brand new year, but in order to take full advantage of where I’m headed in the coming years I must adequately realize where I have been.  So I began thinking about the last decade, where I have been, things I have done, great moments in time and memories I wish I could forget.  The 2000’s were a decade filled with opportunity and even at one point, was a blank slate.  So what did I write in the 2000’s and what will the future decade bring?

June 3, 2000 – I remember very clearly as the doors flew open and the most beautiful woman I have ever seen is standing there, dressed in white.  Her father attached to her arm, beautiful music, friends and family all around.  She made her way to me and I pledged my life to her.  Today is the day I give my life to my wife, Misty Rodda.  Today is one of the days I will never forget.

September 11, 2001 – I’m sitting in a college classroom listening to a lecture.  The door bursts open and another panicked professor interrupts our class.  He tells us that America is under attack.  Our entire class and college campus rushes to the nearest TV and we watch as hijacked aircraft slam into the World Trade Center.  We hear reports of 4 hijacked aircraft.  We go into the auditorium and our entire college campus; students, faculty and staff, grab hands and humbly go to God to pray for our country and the lives that we have literally seen lost before our very eyes.

May 10, 2002 – I was wearing a funny robe with a fancy hat on my head.  I walked proudly across the stage of my Alma Mater, Central Christian College of the Bible, and received my college degree.  Four years of hard work have finally paid off and I couldn’t be more proud of my college.

May 18, 2002 – The sounds of a crying baby pierce the room as my first born son, Grant, makes his presence known to the world.  My eyes are filled with tears as the doctor hands me my son.  I hold him so close and look at his precious, chubby little face.  I lean him over so that his mother who has endured 23 hours of labor can kiss him on the cheek.  And just that fast, I already loved him with my whole heart.

May 26, 2002 – I begin my very first ministry in Milan, Missouri with the people of the Milan Christian Church.  I will spend two years here, investing myself in the people.  I still love them today.

August 22, 2004 – I begin my second full-time ministry in Petersburg, Illinois at the Petersburg Church of Christ.  I know God has something in mind for me.  I know I have more to learn about ministry.  I will spend the next five years of my life ministering to the people here.  For Misty and I, there will be some good times and we will experience the lowest moments of our entire lives together here.  God will teach us so much and we will grow closer together and our marriage will become impenetrable.  God’s grace is sufficient.

September 13, 2004 – All is quiet and I begin to panic.  He isn’t crying like he’s supposed to.  He isn’t breathing right.  Something is wrong.  My second son Ashton has entered the world only he isn’t fully ready to do life alone.  My wife and I can’t spend any time with him before he is whisked away to the NICU.  He will spend 24 hours there.  Once the fear was over and we knew he was going to be okay, we introduced the world to our little Ashton.

February 20, 2007 – She has the loudest cry of my children.  Her name is Avary and she proudly proclaimed to the world that she was here and here to stay.  She has become the completion to our family of five.  She is my little princess.

November 29, 2009 – Today is my last Sunday at the Lead Minister at the Petersburg Church of Christ.  There are so many sad faces.  Many tears flowed and hugs were shared.  It is our last Sunday in a more than five year ministry.  I will always have a special place in my heart for the church at Petersburg.

December 6, 2009 – I begin work with the New Life Christian Church in Virginia.  The multi-site, three campus church of nearly 1000 people has brought me on as a campus pastor at one of their campuses.  As I begin my ministry here, there are many pages yet to be written, stories to be told, people to meet and opportunities for God to work.

The 2000’s for me have been written.

What did you write for your life in the 2000’s?

What will you write for yourself in 2010 and beyond?

I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I do know who is already there waiting for me to arrive.

Revelation 22 – “Yes, I’m on my way! I’ll be there soon!  I’m A to Z, the First and the Final, Beginning and Conclusion.  “Come!” say the Spirit and the Bride.  Whoever hears, echo, “Come!” Is anyone thirsty? Come!  All who will, come and drink, drink freely of the Water of Life! He who testifies to all these things says it again: “I’m on my way! I’ll be there soon!” Yes! Come, Master Jesus! The grace of the Master Jesus be with all of you.”