Thank You to My Band of Brothers

As expected, Nathaniel had a fantastic trip to the San Juan river. He has been sharing stories of fishing, camping, building fires, and great time spent worshipping, eating, and laughing. As much as I expected that he would have a great time and the reason for it would be the men of South Side and the love they shared with him, I underestimated the impact it would have on him.

Nathaniel is already bearing fruit from his time spent with Godly men. I have already seen in him a confidence that comes from knowing that he is accepted and loved by men whom he admires and respects. He learned things about fishing, about fire-making, about setting up and breaking down camp, about dealing with disappointment and joy, and about living as a Christian man in the midst of a world that rejects much of what God has given.

A sincere "thank you" to Russ, Andrew, Clay, Dwayne, Thomas, Kevin, Russell, Tim, Richard, and the rest of the men who modeled the love of Christ to my son.

Sharpening in My Absence

I have prayed for my son several times over the past 30 hours or so. I have prayed for his safety as he travels and that he enjoy his week with the group of men from our church who take an annual trip to the San Juan river in the NW corner of New Mexico. I have been privileged to share in this time of fishing, camping, eating, worship, prayer, travel, and conversation for the past two years. This year, due to a job change and the resulting schedule, I am unable to go, but my son was invited by his friend Andrew. I am excited for him to be able to have fun in a beautiful place, and I would have allowed him to go even if that was the only thing he would gain from the trip. The reward that awaits him from this trip is so much more than just the fun of catching a beautiful trout or delicious salmon. The reward is to spend a week in the presence of men who truly love the Lord and who desire to be more like Jesus every day. All of them are flawed and struggle to walk the path the Lord has for them, but Nathaniel will see in them a love for God and for His creation through their smiles, their fish stories, their singing, their prayers, their BS around the BS fire (that's Bible Study for you non San Juan folks).

I am very thankful that there are men in our church who I trust with my son. Men who will watch out for his safety, will demand that his behavior reflect his own love for the Lord as well as the teaching he has received at home, and who will pour themselves into his life. I believe he will come back from this trip knowing that to be a christian man at South Side Baptist Church is to be part of a band of brothers who will love him, teach him, hold him accountable, and encourage him to walk in faith and use his God-given gifts to bring glory and honor to the Lord. I thank each of the men going on this trip, including those who are probably still an hour or more from their arrival time, for investing in Nathaniel's life during this week. God bless you.