On July 25th, I was afforded an incredible privilege. I was able to perform my first ceremony as a minister. There was a couple within my church that wanted to be wed and asked me to perform the wedding. I was incredibly honored! I hadn't really seen myself as the pastoral ceremony guy, but having been around Hope for nearly 6 years now, you have the opportunity to be a part of people's lives and they want you to share in their really large life events. It was staggering as I was standing there because there was a flood of information that came to mind.

First, I am getting married in a matter of months. In what seems like a matter of days, I am going to be a husband. A head of household. One flesh. A family man. A ball and chain...Whoa! I nearly got choked up when I started talking about what marriage is and how it responds. The thought of spending the rest of life with Rachel is a soothing and refreshing thought. She brings me more joy than any other person ever has and to be able to have every moment of my life be filled with that from now on is sheer bliss. She is a great woman and I'm thrilled to have her as my wife.

Second, I thought of Jesus and what happens in the end. In what could be a matter of days, we will soon be taken to the sky to meet with Him and to enjoy the marriage supper of the Lamb (see Revelation 19). To think that all the emotions that come with my personal marriage are a faint glimmer of what is going to happen when we are taken to the sky. If I can get those kind of emotions when marrying a woman, imagine what becoming the bride of Christ is going to be like. Whoa! Now you can see where the flood started.

Third, you can't help but think of marriage and take it here. Have a great day.


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Now playing: Rob Bell - Rob Bell - The Gods Aren't Angry