January 1, 2016
How to Best Engage this Website
*Past Content
(2009-2012) The audio and video content presented of myself are from previous speaking engagements prior to my life altering injury that occurred at the end of 2012. The span of my teaching/preaching back then was from 22 years old until I was halfway past my 26th birthday. These were formidable years for me as I was developing my Christian worldview, application of Scripture, theological foundations, and just overall wisdom as a young pastor. As I've grown older, God has continued to sharpen these areas. My Request My request is only that you would engage all video and audio content from 2012 and before in this vain; recognizing how God continues to develop His leaders. For example, what the disciple Peter was able to illustrate/teach when he walked with Jesus was wholly different than what the apostle Peter was able to illustrate/teach in his later years as head over many churches post resurrection. In other words, God continues to develop His shepherds. So while I am confident today to continue re-sharing this helpful content; knowing it is all truth, please extend grace, knowing that they were preached from a younger-less developed version of myself. I have gone to great lengths to share only the segments of these speaking engagements that revealed as much Biblical accuracy as possible, while not losing the heart of the sermon. This required me to edit out portions of various sermons that contained too much youthful angst. Some theological positions I held then were not always fleshed out appropriately; or occasionally I failed to share other parts of God's truth that would bring better balance and understanding to you as a listener. And some whole sermons will never be posted and will stay in my personal archives of my office forever as tokens of how far I've come in wisdom and grace :) ! |
*Questions Regarding
Past Content So Why share the content at all if you have to have this lengthy disclaimer you may be asking? Good question! The Lord has made it clear that this content should be shared; after all, He still used "the green years" of my pastoral ministry to demonstrate His Providence in reaching hundreds of people – many of them accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal savior-whom to this day are making huge impact in their communities for the Lord. In other words, He loves using unfinished projects – Praise Christ! Who am I to deny many people the same content that the Lord used to bring so many people to his kingdom! OK I understand, but if you truly believe this then why edit out portions of your sermons? And those few sermons you mentioned you won't release – didn't God use those as you shared to reach hundreds? I totally understand where you're coming from. In fact, I spent much time thinking about the very same thing. Ultimately, I believe God's truth needed to be shared – and I believe the truth is in those sermons... I didn't focus on showcasing the best version of myself then, rather I focused on content. I intentionally left areas of the sermon that were very revealing of my youth so as to bring a spirit of authenticity to my content. However, parts of sermons that I knew were simply too confusing or unhelpful for you as the listener -I elected to remove. I made it about CHRIST-thinking about YOU-trusting the Lord for ME |
*Present Content & Blogs (2015-Present)
My request is that you would engage with this content with supreme confidence. Rather young or old; high schooler or senior citizen – there are mysteries and blessings in store for those who have ears to hear. While I am certain I will have more clarity at 39 than I do now at 29 years old; there is a depth of wisdom the Lord has graciously granted me now that I am confident won't change much in terms of theological dispositions/truth for the rest of my earthly life. This is good news for both you and I. However know that my confidence is not in and of myself; but what God has graciously done within me since my debilitating injury in 2012. In other words, my confidence stems from two areas: God’s grace to me of enhanced "Secret" focus of hundreds upon hundreds of hours of rigorous study from and with reputable sources. The innate wisdom and discernment and emotional intelligence God has graced me to partake in as a result of my suffering. The many and continuing dark nights of the soul -combined with the mysteries of endurance. These two areas have made me entirely boastful of Christ Jesus in this content. |