Sharpen the Edge

Dear Family, Friends, and Lakeside flock

Welcome to my newest blog! I will be attending Briercrest College this upcoming September and look forward to sharing with you all God is teaching me throughout this time. I do, however would like to share with you a little about how I've gotten to this point and my reasoning behind furthering my education.

That was Then...
For the last four years I've had the unimaginable privilege of being a tool in the hands of God traveling all over the world sharing the love and good news about His Son Jesus Christ. From the islands of Hawaii, Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga throughout Europe and all over Asia. I sit back and marvel at just how faithful God has been not only to save me from the direction my sinful life was heading but to choose and use me to participate and step into the redemptive work He is doing in peoples lives all over the world.

I'm convinced he never needed my help, but like a good Dad who loves his kids just wants to be with them and work along side of them. There is no other explanation for what I've been able accomplish in these last few years apart from the power of the Holy Spirit. What an incredible feeling it is to be in God's will!

This is Now...
I always kind of felt that going to school was unnecessary for missions-minded people who live with gospel urgency. After all, I don't need an education to tell people about Jesus, do I? Most of the 12 disciples didn't have degrees and they flipped the world upside down! What would getting a degree give me other than a big head and better job opportunities?

This was my thought process while doing missions work until at one point I sought counsel from a Pastor concerning the idea of going to school and getting more education. He shared with me the following story;

A young lumberjack challenged an older co-worker to a contest. Each of them wanted to see which man could fell the most trees in a single day. By sundown, it was obvious that the older lumberjack had won hands down. The younger fellow couldn’t figure it out. He had chopped non-stop all day, while the older lumberjack had stopped every hour. When asked, the older man explained, “Every time I sat down, I was sharpening my axe.” The young man who was too busy cutting down trees to stop and sharpen his axe lost the contest.

He explained that, as Christians living gospel-centered lives we need to take time and “sharpen” our proverbial axes. Such time is well-spent, not wasted since we will be more effective and prepared for whatever "forest' God puts us in.

Jesus was always busy, but never in a hurry. He was always under pressure to respond to the needs of people, yet He was at peace. He spent time away to recharge His spiritual batteries so that he could be ready for more ministry and influence.

With this new perspective I made the decision to devote the next three years of my life to educating myself in church history, theology, worldviews and Christian ministry. Since God has called me to be a Pastor of His church I want to be the very best I can be for Him. I believe this schooling will equip and sharpen me so that I might be an effective tool in His hands.

Please be keeping me in your prayers;
- Diligence in Academics
- Heart and Mind Transformation
- Deeper intimacy with Jesus
- To be a blessing to the school and community

"Not that I have now attained this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me and made me His own" Phil3.12


"I also pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe" Eph1.18