I began writing this blog during the summer of 2010. I did not even know what a blog was, but I had a burning desire to exalt Jesus Christ, so I sought ways to do that. Writing this blog was one of the ways in which I sought to honor God.
Early into writing, I named the blog, “A Slave of Jesus Christ,” because this is the way that apostle Paul saw himself, as did the other apostles. They would address their letters to the churches, insert apostles name, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ. The actual Greek word translated into English bond-servant is δοῦλος doulos, which literally translated means slave. So if these men, who were first in the church of Jesus Christ saw themselves as slaves of Christ, should I think myself anything else?
The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:20, “For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” (NASB)
The price that the Corinthian Church was bought at, the price that we have all been bought at, is the body and blood of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Not only did I write in this blog, but I began evangelizing to the best of my abilities. Giving out tracts everywhere that I went, and even doing so with purpose. I stood on street corners with a cross that said, “Are You Ready.” I preached in open air in the cities of New Orleans, New York, Atlanta, Phoenix and in Tyler, TX. I went back to school, to get a bachelors degree, so that I could go to seminary. I obtained a masters degree in theological studies from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO, graduating on May 3, 2019.
I was on top of the world, and desired to dive head first into ministry. The ministry that I then sought was a teaching ministry, not at a university, but to pastors in the mission field. I also applied for, and was excepted, June of 2019, into the doctoral program at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. However, my world began falling apart, in fact, it began crumbling before I even realized it, it began crumbling when I started this blog.
Our son Daniel graduated from high school, and we sent him to the University of North Texas, but instead of going to class he fell into parties and drinking. We withdrew him from school, and brought him home. He continued to do the same when he came home, but when we told him that he could not, and live in our home, he ran away, and has been gone since. Over the past few years, he would appear briefly, but it has been two years since we heard from him last.
Our daughter was to be married in June of 2019, married to a young man that Darlene (my wife), and I had grown to love. This young man was an engineer for Lockheed Martin, working on the Orion Space Craft. I enjoyed telling people that my future son in-law was working for the space program. Suddenly, without warning, the marriage that had been planned, and paid for by us, was off. Our daughter would not give an explanation, and if we asked, how dare we hurt her feelings.
She continued to live with us, but would leave on weekends to go visit a friend. She was an adult, so as long as she respected our home, she could live with us. All the while I continued forward, pursuing the plan of teaching pastors in the mission field.
During the summer of 2019, I became certified to teach, by a missionary organization, my first trip was to Cuba, September, 2019. In a week long trip to Cuba, I, and another brother taught systematic theology to a group of pastors, and church leaders on the island. I was so energized by this, but the problems at home continued.
We were to return to Cuba, for another session, December 2019, but our visas were denied by the Cuban government, they would allow us entry, only twice a year, so we planned to return spring of 2020.
You already know what happened, spring of 2020, a world wide pandemic, with everything shutting down. I had been a Registered Nurse since 1997, in fact, an ICU nurse, so I returned to ICU nursing. I contracted COVID-19 around Christmas of 2020. I awoke on Christmas morning to a text message from our daughter, I expected Merry Christmas, but what I actually received sent me into a tailspin of despondency, of which I have not yet recovered.
She was embracing another young woman, and had a wedding ring on her finger. In the spring of 2021 our daughter entered into a civil union with another woman. In the summer of this year, our son will be 34, and our daughter 30. Our son will not communicate with us, and our daughter is in a homosexual relationship, in a civil union with another woman.
I have not been involved in any ministry since, I confess that I have no drive to do so. The pastor of our church, Sylvania Church in Tyler, Texas, asked me to teach, a year ago, systematic theology on Wednesday evenings. I did, but with a despondent heart. He recently asked me to teach again, but I did not have the energy. I stopped writing in December of 2021. In November and December of 2022, I wrote a few blogs, stories really, about our lives.
I have a desire to begin writing again, possibly every Sunday morning. I do not know what I will be writing, maybe stories from our lives and the lives of those whom I know. I have not yet recovered from the pain of this world, but I am, nonetheless, a slave of Jesus Christ, he bought me at a high price, the price of his own body and blood; therefore, I shall honor God, and glorify the name of Jesus while I am able.
