My family and i were blessed with a wonderful time in New York City. We spent Christmas Day there and after a few more days, returned Wednesday night. Here below, are just a few pictures from the trip. You can view many more right here.

What a day this has been.

Once again, I find myself standing on the mountain top. My soul has been revived, reenergized, and rejuvenated. Although my eyes are heavy with weariness and fatigue, my soul stands tall and strong, more convicted and in love with Jesus, the Christ, than when I awoke this morning…and last night…and the day before.

Am I at a retreat, you may ask? No…in the past year and a half, one of the many things I’ve learned: all you need for true spiritual revival is an open Bible and an open heart and mind.

I cannot even begin to describe what a blessing it is to be here at this time and in this place. Having the privilege and opportunity to get together with many fellow preachers of the Gospel and to spend our days together studying the Word of God with some absolute giants of faith through the many years.

Today, many different sentiments could be found within me.

The fire within me for the Lord has grown and grown. The desire to go out into this world to make disciples everywhere, far and wide, is increasing more and more each day as I grow in the love and understanding of my Lord.

But there is also somewhat of a sad emotion as well.

As we wrapped up two more wonderful life-changing classes today, part of me was longing for this to keep going, on and on. These two years here are so precious…so overwhelmingly invigorating.

When the time comes to move on from this place, I pray I will always be a man of the Word and devote myself to the feasting of His Word. But it’s been said that never again will we be able to spend as much time studying as we are right now.

No, ministry school isn’t a prerequisite for evangelism. No, everyone doesn’t have to go.

But I am eternally grateful that I made the decision to come here. That I leaned on Christ when the forces of hostility voiced their criticisms toward me and that I came here to grow and to more adequately prepare myself for the full-time evangelism I wish to devote the rest of my life to.

As much as I’m going to miss studying and growing with these dear brothers in Christ, I can’t wait to get out there, with more time and more understanding and a deeper love for Christ as well as the lost.

This world is lost and empty from head to toe. She’s blinded by the disease of the mindset that there are many ways, when in actuality, there is one.

Even more alarmingly so, the Church is drifting further and further away from the authority of God’s Word and are embracing the doctrines of men.

Time is of the essence.

Well, I suppose time got away from me. It’s been nearly two months since I’ve posted.

Unbelievable.

If there’s anyone still out there, I apologize for the lack of updates and will make it a practice to actually write on here more often, seeing this is a blog and that I love to write.

As you can imagine, life has been busy with school and the various outreach opportunities we’re taking part in.

As for the classroom, we are currently wrapping up what has been yet another excellent term, with studies in Isaiah, the Church, Church Growth, Hebrews, as well as Christian Counseling.

It’s so hard to believe, but after this term concludes next week, there remains only two more terms to go before we graduate this coming May. I can say with all certainty that the past year and a half has been a time of unanticipated growth and I eagerly await what is still to come.

On Monday nights, my friend Justin and I are still attending the A.A. meetings. Ever since the last update, two more colleagues have joined us, both of whom come from pasts that included drug and alcoholic addictions.

We have yet to win a single individual in this group for Christ and the easy thing to do would be to throw in the towel and give up since it seems as if we’re doing no good. Yet week after week, it’s the individuals who embrace us and tell us how much they appreciate us taking the time who remind us of the exciting rapport that is developing between us that makes us want to continue coming.

Wherever we go, it is our aim and our goal to be lights for Christ in this world of darkness.

Please remember us in your prayers as we strive to take the Gospel to all of creation. You too are in my prayers, for as Christians, we share in the responsibility and blessing of seed sowing.