"For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 AMP
My Dad is my hero! I wanted to be just like him! Dad played basketball and football at UNC, went to dental school and set up his dental practice in Raleigh, NC. He was a dentist for over 40 years. My plans were to go to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, play basketball, go to dental school, practice dentistry with my Dad then go to the mission field in Africa. My imperfect plans did not materialize.
36 years ago today, God opened the door for me to attend Baylor University in Waco, TX!!! I praise God for His Provision that would radically impact the direction of my life!!!
Over the years, the Lord has used Baylor to mold me and make me into the man that He has called me to become! God confirmed His Call in my life to preach the Gospel based on Jeremiah 1 in my devotions while preparing for a DiscipleNow at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas, TX. I was discipled by Louie Giglio through Choice every Monday night for 5 years. I learned to enjoy brisket, Blue Bell and bluebonnets. I made lifelong friends like: Butch and Mary Jane Schwarz (Schwarz Company and IMB Board member); Rev Nathan Jones (Central and West Area Representative for the Central Texas Fellowship of Christian Athletes); Dr Blair Browning (Chair and Professor of Communications at Baylor); Dr Michael Lindsay (President of Taylor University, IN); Dr Brad Johnson (President of College of the Ozarks, MO); Coach Ron Crandall (head varsity boys basketball coach at Houston Christian Academy, TX); Peggy Emerson Lively (Women's Groups Coordinator at Highlands Baptist Church, Waco, TX); Coach Todd Harbour (former Baylor track and field head coach and current Port Isabel High School track head coach); and Pastor Bruce Moore (Christ Fellowship, Tampa, FL). I had the joy of proposing to my beautiful wife, April, in front of Pat Neff Hall. I pray that the Lord will continue to use Baylor to mold and make men and women who boldly, passionately and simply proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to a lost, dying and fearful world!
Needless to say, I praise God that His Plans are perfect!!! Sic'em BEARS
