40 Days of Purpose
FBC LaGrange
April 17, 2005

5th Street Lock-In
March 24th

Actually it was on the 25th at 2:15 in the morning. But those are just details. I was coming off of the Easter service when I came to the lock-in. I had enough time to tear down at church, drive home, unload what I didn't need, pack what I did need, get a few critiques and encouragements on the service from my wife and then I had to go to the college. I got there and set up in a racquetball court. I had the choice of where to set up and I choose the echoing room. Good choice too. The sound and music were great.

I knew some of these guys. I went to 5th Street for many years before God moved us. It was a pleasure to see these youth again. And seeing Ray on a little midget bike was well worth the price of admission.

I was given the choice to decide what to paint and what to say. I wanted to do a custom one but time was not on my side. I believe God had something in mind anyway. I painted a different style of Talents. No markers. It turned out good and they liked it. But God moved during me speaking. I spoke well and got what was on my heart across. The youth seemed to be attentive, especially with it being 2:30am. I didn't know what God had me there for until afterwards. I got to speak to one youth and I laid out my heart. It was touching for both of us. God does move in mysterious ways.

Super Bowl Party
February 6, 2005
What a great time this was. I got to see many of the youth that were at youth camp the earlier summer. We started the night off with a concert by Byron Keith, and I got to paint with him again. There was a good crowd of youth. Some new faces were amongst the familiar. Once the game started, the food came out. What a spread! I filled my plate up twice just to be able to enjoy it all. They had that cardboard pizza that has that soft crust–simply awesome. During the first half of the big game as I was watching the commercials more than the game, I was having a hard time deciding what I would paint at halftime. No wardrobe malfunctions here. Also nothing to see! As the clock ticked closer to zero, I finally chose to do Shine with paint instead of markers like I did at Cornerstone. The painting was fun–handpainting. I then gave a brief testimony about how as Christians we are to be different and share love to others.

During the second half I messed around with another element from Cornerstone. I tried to paint the two themes that Eric Timm and I did during our tag team painting session. I also tried to do these two via handpainting but I did it no justice to the original. But it was fun!

Liberty Baptist Church
January 30, 2005
This service had an above average amount of meaning for me. Liberty is the church that I grew up in, walked the aisle at and was baptized at. So when they heard that I would be coming to the service where my nephew would be baptized, they called me up. The pastor wanted me to paint a pictable about baptism. I got to go back to my very first church to paint a pictable about baptism at the very place where I was baptized during the very service where my nephew would be baptized. This was a very special service for me. God really touched me as I was painting and the worship team led the congregation in singing. I even sang along, probably very loudly and off key.