Thank You

I read these words in scripture this morning and felt inspired to thank few people:

Colossians 1:3 says "I thank my God every time I think of you."

Well, it may not be totally true to tell you that I thank God for you EVERY time I think of you, but certainly MANY of the times.

Here is what came to my heart again this morning. It risks sounding so Cliche, but here goes: This ordination this morning would not be happening without some of the people that the Lord has placed in my life. This morning I want to say THANK YOU!

• Thank you Tricia, my love. This is what has continually been on my heart as I anticipated this morning. People are not going to move forward in fruitful ministry without the love and support a godly spouse. So, here is my deal....Proverbs 31 poses a question: "A wife of noble character, who can find?" The answer: Noah can!! And he did!
  
• Thank you Mom and Dad for funding the start of this journey and for shaping me as a boy and for STILL shaping me as a man and for as long as you live.
• Thank you sisters and brother (if I do not clump you together, this post will become a book). I am unusually blessed to have one brother and 3 sisters within ten miles of me. They have been ridiculously supportive in this journey. Many trips to PA, many Sunday and CCF, a wedding in NY. A special shout out to my brother who has stood beside me in ministry as one heck of a right hand man. When it comes to ministry, the dude often knows what I am thinking before I do!
• Finally, allow me to just list some of the people that I am deeply thankful for that have shaped my call and development as a leader. Even though I will not write much here, each of these people have been tools of God in my life:

1. Bill Fuergeson (Childhood Pastor)
   
2. Dorothy & Francis Furgang (Elder couple that sowed into me as a child)
   
3. David Eshleman (needs no explanation)
   
4. Lew Good (needs no explanation)
   
5. Keith Battle (HS Teacher, now Pastor)
   
6. Pam McComb (HS Teacher)
   
7. Glenn & Helen Hurst (MY CCF Youth Leaders)
8. Angie Williams (one of the many that prophecied ministry over my life)
9. Paul Lynn (My College Dean of Men whose role I later filled)
   
10. Dan Mortensen (VFCC Supervisor and VP of Student Life and Friend and Mentor)
11. Paul Mutchler (Pastor and Ministry Friend)
12. Jaye Lindo (See last week's post..Yall don't know how Jaye shapes me)
13. Nelson Okanaya (An amazing teammate who has balanced and complimented my leadership and discipled me as much as I have him!)
14. Thurman Custis (TC has been a more important part of this CCF ministry season that he knows)
15. Joel Arata (everybody needs a friend like this....especially every Pastor. Joel has not missed a beat in my life over the last 15 years!)

The problem with what I just did is that I KNOW that I have missed people here. The Lord has been so good to me and has sent people into my life time and time again.

I just have to say THANK YOU!

"I thank my God every time I think of you!" Col. 1:3