Thank YOU... all i can say.. thank YOU!

I found this photo on line on a "random signs" website... and even though their focus of posting was humor it hit me another way...
"Thank you for your suffering"... WOW ... such simple words, yet such deep and full out meaning... REALLY- Think about it- what if we really took the time to not only think those words, but we visualized them, we said them, we POSTED them for all to see.
WHAT IF... we were bold enough to place a sign like this in our yards... at our places of business... in our lockers at school... our sporting events... at our favorite coffee shops... and then when people stopped to look (cause we know they will) we don't brush it off, we are not quick to explain it away or mumble a excuse under our breath... BUT what if we took the time to explain just WHY ... WHY we are thankful for the suffering.. the suffering of the beatings... the Suffering of a mocking crowd... the suffering of a cross.
WHAT IF... we did more then just sing a few songs on Easter Morning? WHAT IF... we lived the message the story from the cradle to the cross every day? WHAT IF... each step we took every day we took boldly? WHAT IF... we actually were bold enough to say...

I want to be bold enough... I want to be Strong enough... I want to EVERY DAY... find a way to THANK HIM for the Suffering...
Because of Him... I live... how about you???

Celebrating Bud Lueck... an amazing man, father and husband

It is hard to believe that a year has past... it seems like only yesterday my phone rang to let me know that one of the most amazing men, fathers, and husbands I have ever known had won his battle with cancer and gone on to celebrate with Jesus... leaving us here to mourn and CELEBRATE his life. Bud was the man you knew as a friend within the first moments in his presence. He was a big bear of a guy with a laugh that filled the room and arms that could hug like none other.

When I moved to Walla Walla, WA in July of 1997 to be the Youth Pastor at Pioneer UMC, his beautiful daughter's Brandy and Toni were in my youth group... and their family became my family. Holiday's would be spent together, trips would be taken together, snow would be played in and laughter and tears shared. They would trust me to take their eldest Nashville to look at the music world... their youngest on a mission trip to Jamaica... they would celebrate and cry with me as I followed my call to Texas. They would count me as family when their daughters married two of the most amazing men and make sure I was there to share in their days.... and ask me to be as family on the day we celebrated Bud's life...

In time spent just how we would do all those years before- but this time with the added addition of some special lil ones, we took a stroll- shared some memories- walked in our thoughts-- and looked for Grandpa Bud's yellow plane with JP... it was a very special day... so today, as I do every day when I see my blue rising star that has been placed in honor of Bud... I pause and remember a man who's integrity is something we should all strive to have, who's love of family was awe inspiring, who loved his wife as every man should and who never met a stranger...

we love and miss you Bud... your finger prints are upon us!


































The road of life is never easy... but the road of life is paved with people that will leave finger prints upon us for life!
Thank you Jesus for all those you have brought across my path- their finger prints rest upon me...upon my heart