Showing posts with label family. Show all posts

I grew up in an AG church in Ashtabula County. My dad was the director of a Christian camp, and I spend the majority of my first 12 years of life in one of those 2 places, very clueless to the world. I accepted Christ at 6 in Super Church. I spent the next 10 years of my life riding the fence. I tried for a long time to live in both arenas, and we all know that this didn’t work. I always knew Christ and would go through spurts, but never really sold my life out to him all those years.

My family has always been close. I had some difficult years with my mom when I was in 8-9 grade because she was not willing top compromise righteousness in our home, so we butted heads. I often felt guilty because my little brother followed in a lot of my bad choices. I honestly feel like a lot of my life was wasted on myself instead of making it count for God.

The timeline from the end of college is crazy, and I feel like this is kind of when my life started. I was working part time for Brian when I graduated. Nate Migal was on the phone with a friend who was not able to use his ticket for El Salvador. I butted in, and said “I’ll go.” So I met Linda in July, went on our first date in August, were engaged in Septemer, and married in December of 05 at the same time Chris Walker left and I came on full time with the youth. So, I had a wife and a job!

Grace came in March 2006 and Logan in December of 2006, and my life has never been the same since.

So, there is the life, but where is the faith. I got very angry in my teen years when my church of over 1000 fell apart because of poor leadership. In my sophomore year of HS we left that church, and I never REALLY plugged in again until CVC.

Brian had a significant affect on my life when I came to CVC. Brian was one of the first people in a long time to really challenge me in my walk with Christ. Then Dan came along and added much to that over the next few years, and I am eternally thankful to both of them for showing me how to be a man.

I am not taking my dad out of the equasion, but it was difficult for him to pour into me from 70 miles away. My dad is a man who has always loved the Lord with all his heart, as does my mom, and they have spent their lives showing Jesus to me, and raising me to love him the best they could. I am so excited when I watch them with Grace and Logan now, because I know that they will teach them about Jesus too.

I married WAY up, and at our wedding Rick challenged us to be on mission, and so I took that challenge seriously. I feel like that was somewhat the beginning of my spiritual journey. Like I opened up the door for Christ to finally take me over. There was an immense sense of responsibility to be a man of God, and that was made greater when Grace and Logan came.

I think that I am a testament to coming just as you are. I learned to lead worship as I was leading worship. I learned to shepherd kids as I was shepherding kids. God continued to teach me as I was trying to catch up to the learning curve. And I am still learning to be a husband and a dad as I do those things. The power of the Holy Spirit and the grace of Jesus is all I have to account for anything. I am blessed beyond anything I deserve. I often step back and think about my life, and am humbled that God chose me. I am poorly under qualified for the responsibilities I have, and am glad of it, because it allows my story to shine glory on Christ.

It is an awesome thing to know people who really excel at their art. Some of us might know someone who is a good painter, or a person who is a really good actor or singer. We might know someone who played football at the college level or baseball in the minor leagues, but it is rare to know people whoa re really great at what they do.

I met Nathan Migal about 4 years ago when we worked together for about 6 months at my church. Nate has since gone on to realize his dream of being a professional photographer. Nate isn't one of those guys who is pretty good at taking pictures, Nate is one of the best, and you can ask anyone who has ever worked with him and they will tell you the same.

Our first experience was hiring Nate for our wedding. We did this long before he had a business, a website, or even really good equipment. He was just getting going, and we were on a tight budget, so we asked Nate to do our wedding. Every photographer is going to capture the things that they need to capture...the kiss.....the walk down the isle....the ring.....the first dance....etc. But Nate captured moments in our wedding that happened within seconds, and the pictures that he took have captured those looks and laughes for us to have forever.

So of course, we started telling everyone that we know about him, and he got a few more weddings, then he staretd really pushing his business, and he's blowing up big time. I call him now and then and he's in Baltimore or in Florida doing a shoot. Not too shabby.

Nathan also did a shoot with my band, Ward 9, and the shots that he got are incredible. You can see them on his blog.

But the reason for this blog, is that a few weeks ago, Nathan came to our home and did pictures of our children. He made a link to them last night, and I was floored.....again, he just gets better and better. So I wanted to take this opportunity for all of you who read my blog, to introduce you to Imagen Photography. You can find out all about him and his team at http://www.imagenphotos.com. You can see samples of their work, and most importantly link to his blog where you can keep up to date on everything that is going on with their company. I have posted a few pictures here just to give you a taste. I hope you are okay with that Nate. He now is also providing family shoots at your home and is working with families to create their holiday greetings, so ask about that too.

Last weekend I went and visited my brother, his wife, and my new niece Leah. He and his wife are both youth pastors at a church in a really cool little town in Michigan called Williamston. It actually reminds me a lot of our hometown of Rome Ohio.

I was driving home from work today, and I happen to be playing against my brother today in our fantasy football league. Of course there was a smack talk phone call, and several text messages daunting the other, but it got me to thinking about the relationship that my brother and I have. I think that compared to a lot of people I know, we have something pretty cool. My brother and I genuinly love one another, and on top of that, we like each other. I once heard a commedian say that there are a lot of people that we have to love that we don't like. I'm lucky enough to have a brother that I both love and like.

We grew up in different stages. When I was in middle school, he was in elementary, and was much too cool for my little brother. Once I got into high school, and was interested in him again, he was in middle school, and was way too cool for me. We had one year of high school together, when I was a senior and he was a freshman. We started to bond a little bit in that time, but I really think it was once I went off to college that Micah and I really became friends. I worried about choices he was making in high school, regreted some of the examples I had set for him, but most of all we really were finally on the same playing field...we were both growing up.

Some of my favorite times are when we are able to spend time together, whether it be at Holidays or on a visit...I think I probably laugh harder with my brother than with anyone else, and that is saying a lot, because I do a lot of laughing.

For a long time I was uncertain of my brothers faith, and honestly that scared me a lot. I think it was actually his wife, when they started dating, that reintroduced him to his faith, and helped him grow. I'll always be thankful to her for that. Now, I'm in a place where I've not only been able to see him become and good husband, but also to see how my he loves his little girl, and what a great dad he is.

Linda and I often talk about how blessed we are to have the family that we do, and for them to get along the way that they do. Unlike many a horrible sitcom, I love my mother-in-law. She is so stinking fun I can't stand it, and Linda loves my mom as well. How often does that ever happen. My dad and I have a great relationship that keeps us on the golf course, watching the big game, and hanging out together often. My parents are a couple of my best freinds these days. They live pretty close, and there is never a time when I don't look forward to them visiting.

Its pretty rare to look forward to seeing everyone at the holidays. Usually, in families I have engaged with, there is the one member of the family that nobody likes, or that one argument that has yet to be resolved. Do we have our issues, sure. But when it's all said and done, my family is pretty special, and I'm so thankful that my wife gets the opportunity to do life with them, and that I have the opportunity to do life with mny wifes family. And I'm even more thankful that my kids will get to see such beautiful and strong love in action as they grow up.