Grateful cannot describe how fortunate I am to have the Christian heritage I am blessed to know.  Legacy is the word used often, but even it pales in defining God’s grace.  Yesterday I had the joy to be with mentors and friends that shaped my life over 40 years ago.  Maybe common people in the world’s terms, but giants of the faith.

In 1966 I was 11 years old when I attended Camp Awana for the second year.  My cabin leader, a young man named Dick Sisson.  Yesterday I was reunited with him 47 years later.  He was part of the foundation laid in my life that helped me weather the storm of sexual abuse that would begin that same year.  What an honor to thank him after all these years.  We spoke of the other men that were such an impact on my life.  Lance Latham and Art Rorheim, the founders of Awana took time to personally mentor me as a young boy and teenager.  Ken and Grace Frizane were my youth leaders in junior high and high school.  They organized the reunion yesterday and it brought to light the importance of perseverance and faith…a lifetime of faith. Arne, and Marty, and so many others that just took the time to live into young people.  What a gift.

I pray that those that come behind us will determine in their hearts and lives to live the truth, to nurture those younger and to demonstrate by their lives our Lord’s grace.  The world has changed a lot in the last 50 years.  Yesterday was truly another gift of grace.  Thank you Lord and thank you all that have had an influence on my journey.  I am eternally grateful…