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Imagine you rebelled against your father, thinking that your way was better than his, only to realize that life wasn’t better and having to make a long walk home. On the way you come up with a speech, hoping he will accept you back but thinking that’s not likely. You get home and realize your father has been looking out to the horizon each and every day you were gone, hoping you would return home. He comes running towards you and you get ready to give him your speech. He totally ignores it and greets you with open arms, showing mercy and grace towards you. Instead of punishing you, he throws you a party. What great love! I’ve been that rebellious son. I saw the lights out in the distance and went out to explore and see what life had to offer, only to end up in a pigpen, knowing that there was only one option…return to the Father. On the journey back, the enemy filled my mind with lies. “You’ve gone too far.” “God won’t love you the same way again.” “Going back and li...

A 22-year-old guy…dancing and jumping around with a bunch of kids…wearing a tiger bandana and tiger ears…having the same amount of energy as the kids…listening to VBS music in the car for months…spending his personal money on VBS materials instead of going out with friends to eat out…studying and praying for VBS instead of looking for a job, and even turning down some offers just so he can do VBS…committing to doing 2 VBS’s in one week...investing in younger students so they can lead VBS. This doesn’t sound like a normal 22-year-old guy. I’ve heard so many VBS stories. According to LifeWay Research, in 2017 alone there were 65,301 salvation decisions from VBS. So what makes my story stand out? I really don’t know.  My first VBS was in 2001 at Cleveland First Baptist Church. A family friend told my mom about this thing called “VBS” and mom signed me up. That’s where it started. Each and every summer many kids look forward to vacations. I always, and still, looked forwa...

Have you ever messed up, and no matter how hard you tried, you just couldn’t fix it? You tried everything and nothing worked. That happened to me last week. I am currently in the process of putting together multiple videos for GFBC's Vacation Bible School 2019. One of the videos I am producing is a Sharing the Gospel video, where we will explain God's plan of salvation. If you know me well, you know I love to get creative. This year, I asked my team members who are going to be helping me in VBS if they would be willing to be a part of this video. They were all very willing, so we set up a day to film. A few weeks later, the day to film the video finally arrived. I set up my camera, microphones, and even a teleprompter. We filmed the introduction and then everybody did their individual lines. I put on my headphones, making sure I was getting good clear audio. We filmed the video in about 45 minutes. Two days later, I transferred the video files over to the computer that ...

Focus- a center of activity, attraction, or attention; a point of concentration It’s officially 2019! I’m so excited and ready for 2019. There’s a lot to be excited about, from graduating from UAB in April to interning at a local television station this Spring. It’s a year of transition. I’ll be transitioning from going to school everyday to going to work instead. I’m eager to see where the Lord leads me in 2019. Every year that I’ve been at GFBC, Pastor Kevin has challenged all of us to pray for a watchword at the beginning. At the end of the year we could go back and see how God use that word to impact of lives. In 2019, my watchword is focus. I should know a lot about focus. Being a broadcast communications major and a volunteer of GFBC’s media team, I work with cameras a lot. Our professor always stresses to make sure our image is always in focus. When I run a camera at church there are times someone will say, “check your focus.” Why is focus so important? In an image, the ...

Everyone knows Christmas is a busy time of the year. It’s also a crazy time! People going to Christmas parties, left and right. People crowding malls and stores to get the best deals on gifts for loved ones. Don’t forget all those Christmas movies on tv! And the lights! Don’t forget the lights! Don’t forget about the visitors that we’re expecting on Christmas day. If we’re not careful, Christmas can turn out to be a very stressful time of year. What exactly is Christmas? Ask people on the streets and you’re bound to get a variety of answers. “Christmas is about family.” “Christmas is about presents.” “Christmas is about parties.” “Christmas is about going to the amazing Christmas pageant at church.” When you examine Christmas closely, it’s not about any of the activities listed above. Those are traditions that surround Christmas. I’m all for those, but those events do not define Christmas.   A person does. This isn’t an ordinary person. This person would change everyt...

The beginning of June is the time of year I look forward to the most. It is VBS time! For me, VBS had a hug impact on my life and who I am today. You can watch my video testimony that is on YouTube by clicking on thislink. Overall, counting VBS’s at various churches during my childhood, I have attended 30 VBS’s in 17 years. This year, I will be doing double duty like I did last year. I will be assisting in teaching at Gardendale First Baptist Church and Cleveland First Baptist Church in the same week! One at morning and one at night. Here are my top 5 VBS themes of all time. I will put the theme verse and something I got out of that VBS. 5) Colossal Coaster World: Facing Fear, Trusting God (2013) “For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.” -2 Timothy 1:7 This VBS stood out for a number of reasons. For starters, this was the first theme that did not feature songs written by legendary VBS music composer Jeff Slaugh...

“So the governor asked again, "Which of these two do you want me to release to you?" The crowd shouted back, "Barabbas!" -Matthew 27:21 I wanted Barabbas! In my sinful, selfish nature, I wanted Barabbas. On that dark day over 2,000 years ago, While Jesus was hanging from the cross, I wanted Barabbas! You see, I related to Barabbas more than I did to Jesus. Barabbas lived a life where no one told him what to do. He lived a murderous life. Because of his lifestyle, He was chained up. I once lived like Barabbas. I was in control of my life, It was my way or the highway, It was all about me! I thought I was living the life, When in reality, I was also chained up in my sin and dying. You see, I didn’t want to let go of my control over my life. I was one of the people in the crowd saying, “Give us Barabbas!” Why give MY control over to this so called Savior, who was bleeding to death on the cross. When asked what to do wit...