Northern Ireland Update 5

The wedding is over and the dust is settling.  Beki and I moved into a cozy little house that we are renting out until we are able to go home.  We currently do not have a car so we have been walking a lot and relying on others for rides.  We had guests over last night and look forward to using the time we have here to minister to those God puts in our path.  I am having some coffee and meals with some local young guys over here this week.  Beki and I are also taking time to get together with many other newly married couples as we prepare for young married ministry back home in Ohio.

Please keep praying for Beki's visa medical and interview.  Both must be done in London which means we need God's favor to have the timing work out.  It is not like you can just drive to London and can get very expensive flying there and staying a few nights there.  We are praying everything can work out to get the medical and interview done within a few days of each other so we only have to take one trip to London.

During my time over here I am gaining a small insight to what Paul must have felt when he wrote the epistles.  I miss seeing firsthand the growth God is doing in everyone back home.  I am excited for what is to come and pray that I will be with you all soon.  I will leave you with this passage...


"We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but alwaysseek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may yourwhole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

Brothers, pray for us.

Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you."

- 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Northern Ireland Update 4

We were truly blessed by our friends and family on our wedding day.  We had so much fun and loved the worship time during our wedding ceremony.  We spent 5 days in Edinburgh, Scotland that were absolutely great.  We are now back at Beki's parents house trying to find a place to stay for a couple weeks.  Dad dropped off paperwork at the lawyer's office as soon as they returned home so now we are just waiting for our interview to get scheduled in London.  We are praying for a quick return home and finally get settled in our house.

Beki and I started reading Colossians together.  This morning I was challenged by the power and purpose in Paul's prayer and words.  I want to leave you with this passage as food for thought today.  May these words, may this hunger, and love for people be an essential part of our lives.

"And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.  May you be strengthened with all power, according to this glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light." - Colossians 1:9-12

Northern Ireland Update 3

So tomorrow I am getting married...

As I am reflecting on the whole marriage process I am finding how sanctifying it is.  If I really open my eyes to everything that has happened, especially recently it is easy to see how self-centered and not God centered we can be.  You own wedding can be in and of itself a justification to put your eyes on yourself.  The problem is that when your eyes are on us they are not on Jesus.  I am enjoying this eve of my wedding just thinking about how great God is.  Thanking him for my friends, family, church and most of all my soon to be wife.  This truly is about him and his glory as two people unite.  May God be glorified and lifted high tomorrow!

Thanks for all the prayers and support for the big day!  Love you all!

Northern Ireland Update 2

It was a blessing to pick everyone up from the airport yesterday in Dublin.  After long waits for delayed flights we eventually got the rental cars and got to experience driving on the other side of the road.  Lets just say it was an experience making the two hour drive from Dublin to Bangor.  Needless to say we all arrived home safely and everyone was able to get settled in.  Today the men are off for a road trip along the coast while the women do their women stuff...lol.

In preparation for marriage I have been reading a lot on marriage, listening to sermons on marriage, looking into the Scriptures for passages on marriage, and praying for our upcoming marriage.  The main thought I keep coming back to is found in Ephesians 5:25,

"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,"

This is an incredible challenge and responsibility for us men.  To show our wives the same love that Christ showed us.  For you young guys who someday want to be married I would challenge you to start thinking about this.  Prepare yourself, really start to understand what this means so that you can love your future wife as God has commanded you to do.

Continue to pray as we work through all the last minute details.  Beki and I still have no idea where we are going to live over here when we get back from March 23rd.  Just praying that God will provide us a place to stay till we are able to return to the states.  Our documents are still in the mail.  Upon arrival they will be able to schedule our interview to get us home.  Pray that they would arrive soon.  Thanks again for all your love and support!

Northern Ireland Update

As many of you know I am in Northern Ireland about to get married to my beautiful bride to be. We are blessed to have so many friends and family that have been praying for us and encouraging us through the whole process. I wanted to keep everyone updated with our situation so you can continue to be praying for us. I will try to keep posting updates and possibly some pictures.

Beki and I are currently waiting on an interview to be scheduled in London for her to be approved to return to the states. She sent documents through express mail 2 weeks ago that they needed in the US but have still not arrived.

Last night I was able to be part of a young adult study on Ephesians 6. We looked at the armor of God. I want to remind you today that we are in a battle.

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

God gives us the armor to stand against a vicious foe. We must put on the armor or else leave ourselves susceptible and vulnerable to be attacked and defeated.

praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, v.18