Home Coming!

I told you about 'the barn' outreach last week in Grand Rapids.  Well, here are some pictures of 'the barn'!

It didn't really matter what it looked like on the outside, what was taking place on the inside was important.  Here's a picture of some of the folks on the inside.

Got a nice email from one of the young men that attended.

"Thanks for coming to do the conference. I have heard tons of
positive responses from a variety of people, I also benefited by the
conference and the Casting Crowns concert... THANKS AGAIN.

JB, Rom. 8:28"

What a blessing to see young men and women get excited about their faith!  Speaking of excited, you've GOT TO check out the new campaign that AiG is doing, I am not ashamed!  We're producing the worlds first online video Bible.  Go there, follow the instructions and submit a video of you reading your favorite Bible verse so we can have it added to the site.  Very cool outreach, be a part of it!

Leaving Grand Rapids on Monday I was able to go through Jackson, Michigan, again!  This time I could speak to Jackson Christian School.  I was snowed out there the week before, but not this time.  I spoke 5 times throughout the day to the whole school, k-12.  What a sweet time of fellowship sharing with these young men and women who are on the verge of venturing out into the world.  Great Q&A time.

Got back to the office late Monday night, took Tuesday day off to catch up on "honey do's"!  Spoke Tuesday night to an interesting group.  They are called, "PEP", Providence Extension Program.  They hold classes to help home schoolers with a variety of subjects.  They fully incorporate the Bible into their programs making the Word of God the authority from which they start.  I was really impressed by Beth and the work they are doing.  If you're in the Cincy area and home school, check 'em out!

Wednesday I spoke in the Creation Museum and then left immediately after that for Asheville, NC.  My 6 hour drive turned into a 9 hour drive because the Interstate was closed in the mountains at the Tennessee/North Carolina state line!  No good!  I was able to pick up a hitchhiker and share with him though.  Pray for Charles!  He sincerely needs the Lord, very lost young man.  I tried to share the truth with him, only the Holy Spirit can break down the walls that are built up in peoples lives.

On Thursday while in Asheville I was with my friends in the bands Casting Crowns and Kutless.  Had a GREAT visit with them.  Mark gave me a gift while there.  He got me a Metal Men #1 comic book!  You don't know how cool that is!  It's actually a Showcase #37, but it's the first appearance of Metal Men!  We were in a comic book store in Grand Rapids and I saw it.  I told him why it was interesting.  It's one of the first comics to show blacks in a positive light!  You didn't know it at the time though.  They didn't reveal until 1993 that one of the characters was a black man.  Just a side project I've been working on, how black and other minorities, especially Japanese, were depicted in comics.  It's very sad to tell you the truth.

Had some really, really encouraging talks with the Kutless members.  I had no idea, they are younger than my daughter.  I'm officially OLD!  Had no clue.  They were very kind though, told me that they thought I was only 33!  Suck ups!  I have to admit that it worked though, I like them even more now.  Pray for them.  They are going on to their own tour starting in April!

Left Friday for Covington, Virginia where I got to speak at the Boys Home.  What an amazing ministry.  This place was founded in 1906 by the Episcopal Church.  It looks like a southern plantation.  Take a look at this picture of one of the "dorms"!

It truly is a beautiful place.  They help young men who are headed in the wrong direction to get their life back on track, educationally and spiritually.  I spoke to these young men and was truly blessed.  One of the young men was kind enough to give me a bag with some candy and other neat things!

I was very moved by this experience and want to go back whenever possibe to reach out to these young men.  I spoke for 45 minutes and they paid attention the whole time.  I told them I'd stay around if they wanted to talk some more and MANY did.  We talked for another 20 minutes.  I just answered questions and loved on these young me. 

It broke my heart to see so many young me there from all over the globe.  I sincerely appreciate what this place is doing, I just wish there were more spiritual MEN there working with these young men.  Nothing against women, young men need spiritual mature men to be there and model their faith for them as well though.  One of these days I'm praying that I'll be able to work in a place like this and pour into these young men!  Lord willing of course!

Saturday morning I set up the church that I'm speaking at on Sunday morning in Lexington.  This is the town that I graduated high school from over 30 years ago.  I've not been back many times since leaving and it's good to be able to leave a different message than the one I left back then.

Saturday afternoon I spoke at a youth group in Covington, Virginia.  Totally blessed by this outreach as well. 

Drove back to Lexington to visit with some dear folks in the afternoon.  My mother and step-father moved from Lexington and I wanted to finish high school there so  Don and Nancy let me live with them to finish school.  They took me to church and truly had a big impact on my life.  Whenever I can I try and visit with them and let them know how much I appreciate their willingness to reach out to a young man that had a LOT of issues!  I actually asked Nancy to write the story down why they reached out the way they did.  They told me what had happened to make them do this while I was with them. I'd like for you to hear the story directly from
them.  When I get it, I'll share it.  It touched me!

Saturday evening I had dinner with George.  We went to high school together and I've not seen him since I left over 30 years ago.  He's got two children now, 10 and 7 years old.  He's teaching his son how to play Lacrosse, George played back in the day as well.  It was nice to just sit and visit.  It was sobering though when he shared with me the number of folks who we went to school with who have passes away.  Some very good men!  It was such a reminder to me that life is like a vapor!  We are NOT guaranteed our next breath.  Don't take the short time that we've got on this planet for granted.  Reach out and love on someone today.  Share the truth with them, you just never know how much your words and actions impact other peoples lives.  Coming "home" this weekend has been a reminder to me of that.  I speak in the morning and evening at a church then a school and church on Monday.  I'll let you
know how it goes next week.

Please pray for me, I get home Tuesday night and then leave Wednesday to speak in Anaheim California.  I'm on TBN Thursday night with Kirk Cameron and then head over to meet with some folks at Harvest. 

Lastly, and definitely not leastly (Is that a word?).  Please, please, please pray for my daughter in law, Tish.  She is pregnant with our first grandchild!  We're very excited of course.  Well, she found out there is something not quite right with her placenta which could cause some problems after she gives birth.  The baby is healthy, there is just concern about her health if they can't get the placenta out quickly  after giving birth.  I don't totally get it all.  She's having an MRI next week so the doctors can determine what to do.  God is in control, I ask that you pray for healing.  I also know that if healing is NOT what God has in mind that we will trust Him and He is just as good as ever.  We just ask for protection and strength.

Stay bold,

Carl k.