The Year in Review

The Year in Review Man, it's been a long time since I blogged. There's been a lot going on in and around my life, but I just haven't taken the time to write about any of it. I've seen some of the darkest moments of my life in recent times that made me doubt a lot about life and about some of the people in it. Some of that still lingers to this day, but I'm dealing with it. At the same time I've seen some of the best times of my life recently while serving God. I used to think people were crazy when they'd say they were 'high on Jesus' until I experienced it for myself. The feeling I've gotten while ministering to people and seeing the look in their eyes when the got what I was trying to say to them was better than the feeling I ever got when I was drinking beer and liqour like there was no tomorrow a few years ago. I've really begun to find my place in the world and in the ministry with the tour I was envolved with this year, the internet ministry that has grown so much, and the Sunday afternoon meetings we've been doing. As great as it's been, there are issues to deal with. As for 'The Gathering', our Sunday afternoon meeting, I don't know if we'll be able to keep it going in it's present form. We just don't have the funding to afford the building we're in right now. If we can work something out with that buildings owners, that's great. If we can't, I feel it in my heart that I want to keep 'The Gathering' going in some form either in another space of our own, at someone's church, in someone's living room, or meeting in different places weekly. I'll figure that out as the time comes since I'm not the only one involved in it. As for 'The Follow Me Tour', it's been an awesome experience for me. I've seen God working in amazing ways that you wouldn't believe. In churches, coffeehouses, and bookstores and in people from all walks of life. We did 25 events this year and I was there for 21 of them. We've already got many dates booked for next year. In January and February, I think there's 4 of 5 events each month booked already. That's great; I love serving the Lord, but I also have a family to think of. I don't think I need to be on the road every single weekend in order to serve the Lord. I know that nobody held a gun to my head and made me do as many tour dates as I did, run the online ministry, work with the American Children's Home, and do things with my famlily all at once. I did that to myself and I'm definitely feeling the burnout from it. I'm simply not gonna do that to myself again this year. If God moves me to go somewhere to minister, I'll be there. If He puts it on my heart to spend time with my fiancee Tonya, her daughter Somer, her son Zach, or my brothers, my sister, neice, nephew, at the Children's home, or at my home church, that's where I'm gonna be. One thing that is very solid in my life is New Disciples Ministry. It has truly blossomed the last 6 months, greatly in part to our involvements in the tour and the people we gained because of it. This ministry is something that I know will always be a part of my life, otherwise I wouldn't have tatooed it on my arm. I've grown so much in my work for the Lord, but I've also been reminded lately of my great disdain for 'organized religion'. I keep seeing people hurt by it far too often. I recently even caught myself falling into some religious habits without realizing it. Let me make it clear right now I LOVE GOD AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST, but I truly hate 'religion'. You CAN HAVE JESUS WITHOUT ALL THE GARBAGE THAT COMES WITH 'religion'. Religion is something that they sell to you on late night television with $20 bottles of 'miracle water' and the planting of '$100 seeds' in order to receive a return on you investment. It's also falling into mundane habits and rituals in a big brick building with a white steeple on top for years on end and nobody ever taking the time to set down with you and ask you "Do you know who Jesus is? Do you have a personal relationship with Him? Well let me tell you about Him." Religion is becoming a face in the audience on Sunday morning and never being talked to by your pastor until you don't pay your tithes for the first time. No, I'M NOT ANTI-CHURCH. I just think that the church needs to get back to what it was started for SPREADING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. Anyway; enough of my rant. This year, I've made some awesome friends and family in the Lord. I've seen the ministry I started grow by leaps and bounds thanks to the ministry family that has formed in it. They have taken it and run with it. This year, I've truly seen The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly and The Good will prevail. Thank you if you've taken the time to read this. I know I've run a bit long with it. God bless you and your family. I can't wait to see what 2010 has in store for all of us. Pete 12-1-09