This will be the first time that I have ever blogged. This is something that I am not really that use too, but my good buddy Joel talked me into it. A little bit about myself is that I was raised in the beautiful state of North Carolina. I miss that place a lot. I grew up in a little town called Sparta which is barely on the map. My town had one high school and the town use to shut down during football games. My wife tells me that Sparta reminds her of the movie, Varsity Blues. Except, our football team has always been pretty awful.
I attended two churches during my life in Sparta. The first one was call Saddle Mountain Union Baptist Church. It was really small but the people were awesome. On a normal Sunday we would have about 30-40 people. I miss the small church atmosphere. I miss the smell of this old church, and I miss the people. This was the church my parents got married at. The second church I attended on into my teenage years was Sparta First Baptist Church. The youth group at this church really had an influence in my life. This is when I decided that I want to do something in full time ministry. I had no idea where that would lead me but I was just willing to go and serve.
After I graduated from high school I found myself walking away from the faith. I always wonder why people walk away from the their faith and then i found myself doing that very thing in which I talked about. I started getting into trouble and doing things that I shouldn't do. I always tried to justify everything I did. It didn't matter what it was I had an answer for everything. I would even try to debate people about their faith to see if it was real. I think this is why so many people walk away from the faith. Their faith is not real in their lives. I continued this lifestyle for about two years. I had a friend of mine call me up one night and said he and another friend needed to talk to me. So I drove two hours that night and we meet up at the high school track. We walked about 4-5 miles that night. They laid it all out that night. They told me that the way I was living was not pleasing to God. They told me how much I have changed and my actions where not producing fruit. I knew they were right but I told them they were wrong. So I left that conversation that night feeling defeated. My friends also felt defeated. They left that conversation thinking that what they said went nowhere. Two weeks later I moved in with one of my friends from that meeting and my life hasn't been the same since.
I decided to go Liberty University for my undergrade. I meet so many wonderful people who encouraged me, prayed for me, and helped me understand what it ment to live my faith. During the summers I worked at a summer camp called, River Valley Ranch. This place really changed my life. After graduating from Liberty I decided to work their for a while so I could get my masters degree. Half way through it, River Valley Ranch offered me a full time posotion. So that is where I am today. I met my wife their, and now I live their. I will tell you more about ranch at a different time.
Now I go to a great Bible believing church called Grace Bible of North Carroll. My wifes dad is the pastor of the church so I have to be on my toes...
Check out the website of where I work. www.rivervalleyranch.com
