"February 13, 2016
I had a close encounter with the ‘widowmaker’. The doctor told me my surgery
would be March 4th, and I come to find out from him after that I could’ve been
dead on March 5th had I not had this surgery. People called to check in on me,
and I remember, at the same time, my friend Tim from Knoxville experienced the
same heart attack and lost his life. So, why me?
Just after this,
the Red Bird House was coming up. That’s where churches come together to build
a house for a family in the Redbird Mission area in Kentucky. I had several
conversations with Paul, who was leading it, because I was excited to be able
to help with this build. I’ll admit – I was worried about missin’ this chance
to serve. They may just have to go on without me. I probably shouldn’t have gone
– but I made it to the house. I felt blessed to do that work. But, it hit me,
one day… on that build, climbin’ up the ladder… my friend Tim and the Aaron
Tippin song, ‘I Guess God’s Not Through with Me Yet’. I’m here for this. There
are reminders all around me every day.
We are called to be the doers; the hands of
Christ. It’s my gift to offer. The Lord gave me these talents to share and it
lets me go do my thing. Working with the St. Mark’s Red Bird Mission team feeds
my heart. I keep working with this mission because of the fulfillment you get
afterwards. This allows me to witness
and be thankful for what I have. Helping others keeps me going back. The Red
Bird people are genuinely grateful, but you have to be around them to know. You
can’t be on the sidelines.
Honestly, I wish I
could do more. Time – I feel like I sometimes want to do more – but I fight
time. The more I do, the better it makes me feel. It feeds my heart. I really
wish more guys and gals could help with this ministry. Imagine going around
pickin’ up wall panels from other churches and you seein’ the love other church
families and communities write on the wall sections – the prayers and
scriptures – the uplifting words. Seein’ God in other people really touches
you.
I talk about this ALL
the time; I probably mention it once a week. I love to tell the story of the
whole process. You don’t have to swing a hammer or know how to operate a nail
gun to help. When you go serve with Red Bird, it’s not about you. It’s always
about others. I’ve got to tell the story! There are lots of good people out
there – I want to talk to them. Connecting with people, just by talking. And, I like to make people laugh. If I can
make 10 people laugh, I feel like I have done good.”
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