A New Family

I am, still, at this very moment blown away by those who surrounded me this weekend. I don't think they'll ever realize how great of an impact each one had on my life. The reason being? Because I was included into their lives as though I was a brother, a friend, and someone (forgive me) worthy enough to be in the company of such incredible people.
So that last statement needs to be clarified: I've never been around men of God before like I was this weekend. I've never experienced men who pray before they eat, talk freely about Jesus and their desire to impact the world in a positive, visionary like way. Alex, Pastor Jeff, Jordan, Barrett, Ben, Jake, all these men who've done big, world impacting things for the Kingdom surrounded me and it felt like I had known them all my life. It was inspiring on so many levels yet heart breaking on another.

See, I wasn't raised in a Christian home. Sure mom and dad did the best they could with what they  knew but I thought Jesus was a cuss word and not the Savior of the world up until I was 25. It breaks my heart to look back and know that I missed the opportunities to live a godly life and know that somehow I missed something throughout my childhood.
Yet on the other hand it was such a blessing. Get this, though I didn't have the experiences I would have liked with Christians as a child - my kids will. My children are going to get to call Ben Barreth Uncle...Ben (hey, like the rice! I just realized that.) Seriously, they are going to be able to say they have Jake as their uncle and Melody as their aunt. They'll be inspired by their uncle Barrett ( www.gowalkamerica.org ) and know that they can be encouraged by their Aunt Meredith. These are such rich hopes I have for our children. These are such wonderful hopes. And I know this will determine for Beki and I's children that the path to success runs straight through their aunts and uncles, their grandpa Ray and their cousins Zeke (the Prayer warrior) and Gwen.
What I'm saying is, though I wouldn't trade my family for anything, I'm so richly blessed to be included in this new one that includes revolutionaries for Jesus who have impacted their communities, their country, and their world for the positive. "How awesome is that?!" as Barrett would say.  
Melody, Jake, Congrats and may all that you seek be found in Christ's call for your lives through this beautiful union.