Happy Birthday Derek

Sweet 16! I wish I could hear your voice.  I miss you so much Buddy.  It’s been a long time since we played catch and you could throw a better spiral than me!  You’re a man now.  Know that I love you and I will always love you.  I’m proud of you!

Love,

Dad

PS – I wish I could hear from you all.

Trusting the Lord

My testimony of trust…

Shame made me feel empty inside.  Addiction seemed to fill the emptiness.  If I could drink, eat, have sex, or workout hard enough, then I thought I might escape myself, but it didn’t work. Shame cries to be healed.  My wounds go back to childhood. Emptiness cries out for love.  I’ve been empty for a long time.

Only God can provide the unconditional love I need to fill the emptiness deep inside of me and to heal me completely.  Trust is not easy for me.  It has taken me a long time to trust God.  I do trust Him now.  Choosing to trust the Lord in these tough times increases my faith far more than if He made my way smooth for me.  My testimony is rooted in the Savior by trusting Him and by accepting the will of Heavenly Father.  (See John 14:27; Isaiah 40:1)

     “Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can.  He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour our peace.” - Ezra Taft Benson

Grace & Peace

Happy Birthday Princesses!

My continuous hope is that all is wonderful for both of you. I am so proud of each of you. A double major…WOW! Award-winning artist…WOW! Keep it up, ladies. Always strive in singleness of your hearts, as unto Christ, not with intent to please those who are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your hearts. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people (see EPH 6:5-7). By this you will "lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven....For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (MATT 6:20-21). May your heavenly treasures be exceedingly abundant. I love you two sooooo much.

I pray that Heavenly Father would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened by His Spirit; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what are the dimensions, and to know with absolute certainty, the love of Christ, which surpasses all worldly knowledge; and that you both might be filled with all fullness of God. Our Lord Jesus Christ is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, unto Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (see EPH 3:14-21)

All My Love, 

Dad

When I Was 15

On December 10^th of my Sophomore year at Hayward High, I turned 15.  I missed all of the football season with that ankle injury skateboarding in the Safeway parking lot on Foothill Blvd.  Coach Clark recommended that I pick up a Spring season spot to get me ready for the next year.  I think he thought I would do shot-put or something on the track team.  All my buddies (Aaron, Aaron, Darin, David & Ben) all signed up for the Badminton team.  I’m not sure who found out first, but one of them got word that the team needed men because it was full of women.  So, yes, I made the decision to sign-up just to be on a team surrounded by women in shorts.  I had never even kissed a girl yet, I just wanted to increase my chances.

About 4 weeks into the season, I got my wish and my first awkward, embarrassing kiss.  She was sweet and lived one bus stop past my stop.  I’d get up earlier in the morning (a huge feat of discipline and self-control for a teenager) just so I could walk to her stop so we could ride the bus together one stop longer.  I’d do the same after practice.  We were two people with the whole world open to us.  Our relationship was based on nothing except hanging out and kissing.  Her friends convinced her to dump me (she told me) because I was occupying so much of her time (my assumption).  It did not crush me, I was ready to move on and find another girl to kiss.

At this point, I had completely fallen away from church.  My mom stopped trying to get me to go with her on Sunday.  She always went faithfully.  I slept in.  My special Bible (1^st Communion present) sat collecting dust on my bookshelf – unread. I lost my way.  I had skateboarding, girls, and a new football season coming up, what did I need God and guilt for?  I didn’t give God another thought.

That summer halfway through 2-a-days for the next football season, a senior introduced me to a girl from another school.  Shortly afterward we violated the law of chastity.  We became one flesh and that bond is so strong.  Our relationship was based on nothing but fleshly lust and neither of us minded.  It became a steep slippery slope of debauchery.  At ne point, I brought up the topic of marriage, but she talked me out of it saying that my mom would never approve of a girl like her.  I believed her.  My “first” haunts my soul to this day.  It’s like frosting too sweet on a moldy cake.  It’ is so enticing, but leaves nothing but regret afterward.

I think she would still talk to me if I knew how to contact her.  I don’t know what I’d tell her – we never should have?  I’d tell her about my transformation and the new direction I’m moving.  I’m not perfect (no one is), but I know the path to righteousness.  I’ve got many, many miles to go ( and to back track over  repenting & paying restitution).  My life may not be long enough to fully reconcile with those I’ve hurt.  Regardless, I’ve got to try.  Even with her.

That fall I played Varsity – Left Guard. I loved to pull and crush linebackers who dared to tackle my tailback. The Farmers went undefeated for the first time in a long while.  Coach Clark told me he was surprised by me since this was the first season I played.  I attributed my success to Badminton!  All that “short work”, with footwork on the tiny court in that fast game that requires you to read & anticipate your opponent’s moves, translated into me being raster within 5 yards than anyone big.  And if you weren’t big, then I could put one paw on you and make a giant hole for the back to run.  Winning feels great.

I wish I would have given God the credit for all those wins.  None of the guys on the team showed faith.  They were like me – success trumps the need for help.  It as pride and pride lasts a while until the fall.  This year burned “ends justify means” into my mental preferences.  It would only get worse in years to come. 

When I was 15, I was in love, but lost and full of pride.  A Christian walk and success are not mutually exclusive, one can succeed in this life as well as the next.  All we have to do is follow God’s Word and give Him the credit. When we thank him, we humble ourselves.  If we do not humble ourselves, then we are subject to be humbled by Him (see Alma 32:16) the humble are blessed.

God bless you, Buddy.  I hope you have a Happy Birthday.  I love you, always.

Love, Dad

Doctorate of Theology – Dr. Ryan L. Sumstad

On Saturday, December 3, 2016, the Lynnaugh Bible Academy held a graduation ceremony for the class of 2016.  This was the 6^th class to graduate from the LBA.  The Bible Academy is accredited by Shalom Bible College and Seminary in West Des Moines, Iowa.  I received the degree of Doctor of Theology at graduation after an intense two year program after completing a Master’s degree in Christian Education.

Class of 2016 (Ryan in back row 3^rd from left

Introducing Dr. Ryan L. Sumstad

Doctor of Theology

Summa Cum Laude

Next, I’ll spend the next two years working on a Ph.D. in Nouthetic Counseling (Christian Counseling).  My dream is to be a counselor who helps individuals and couples find solutions to problems in God’s word. I hope I can guide people away from all the terrible mistakes I’ve made in life and help them find the way, the one way, set forth by our Lord and Savior, even Jesus Christ.

To fuel my ambition for Christ I will be a new instructor for the Lynnaugh Bible Academy teaching Christian Leadership and the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke).  I am excited to be teaching Christ’s words to men who want to transform their lives to become better fathers and husbands while earning a college degree.  I will be teaching alongside my brother in Christ and Class of 2016 Valedictorian, Larry Lawhorn.

 

The LBA’s two new instructors (Larry & Ryan)

Please pray for us all that we will be guided by the Holy Spirit to reveal the eternal truths of God’s Word.  I am so thankful to the many volunteers and supporters who have made this possible.  I stand in awe of God’s power to effect the changes I see all around the LBA.  God can reach us anywhere and redeem even the very least of us.  Thank you, Lord, for Your plan for each of us (see Jer 29:11).

Gace & Peace,

Dr. Ryan

Find Your Hope

Where is your hope?  What gives you hope?  What does your hope rest upon?

There is only one true hope.  All else is false hope.  True hope comes from Jesus Christ (see Romans 5:2).  We are saved by this hope (see Romans 8:24).  By this hope we can trust in God’s promises of mercy, grace, forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and redemption.  If you do not have this hope, I encourage you to find it.  Start by reading God’s Word.  The Gospel of John will teach you about God’s love for you.  The Book of Romans will guide you through the steps to take. And the First Epistle of John (1 John) will teach you to know for a certainty that you have this true hope.

The future holds a sweet hope for all who believe.  This brings me great comfort.  Search the Scriptures diligently – they are a love letter to you from God.  He loves you.  I love you.  I would lay down my life for you. 

May the Peace of God and His Grace be with you always.  Break the chains.  Amen.

PS: This will be my final Blog for a long while.  Know that I am thinking of you little ones every single day.  I am proud of each of you.  You are each special to me.  I love you all dearly.  God bless you and keep you.  Amen.

PPS: I was blessed with another visit from Dad, Etta, and Amber.  Keep them in your prayers.  Graduation is in December! Yay!  

Happy, Productive Marriages

     The difference between who you are now and who you will be in the future is based on the books you read and the people you associate with.  I’m being very selective with those I associate with – Christians trying to improve themselves.  I’m also very selective with what I read – Scriptures and books based on Scripture.  I’m working hard to remake myself into a new Creature in Christ.  I’m taking this process very seriously.  I’m relying on the Power of the Atonement to give me the strength to do it.

      Part of my reading has been research into marriage.  Heaven knows I need plenty of work in that area – as do most people.  I’ve come across a wonderful book for anyone from 14 – 41, married or years from marriage.  It’s called”

“In Search of A HELP MEET” by Michael & Debi Pearl

(ISBN 978-1-61644-050-3) www/nogreaterjoy.org

     I totally agree that wives are forever, relationships have eternal consequences and “to be perfectly united to a woman is a man’s greatest fulfillment and his finest success, bar none.” This book will prepare you for success and happiness in marriage at the most critical point: before you start looking.  You’ll also find out more about yourself in the process.  The Pearls have an easy sense of humor that will immediately put you at peace and leave you feeling like you’ve known them for a long time.  Please read this book….your marriage depends on it.

Grace & Peace

Dream A Little More

3-3-16

To little angels on their Big Day, allow me to share this nice quote about dreaming:

            “If a little dreaming is dangerous, the cure for it is not to dream less but to dream more, to dream all the time.”

                        -Marcel Proust

You both will always be lovely and so delightful to me.  Your beauty is only surpassed by your utter awesomeness. Never forget that you are precious, pretty, and loved so very much.  So, dream more and dream big. I love you both.  Happy Birthday!

Grace & Peace

“Every Child is an artist. The problem is to remain an artist once you grow up” – Pablo Picasso

In our youth we had colorful ideas waiting to be shared with the world. We were so alive.  Did we let this side of us show?  Ws it stifled somehow?  Many things can close up our childlike openness.  Maybe we just denied it ourselves thinking it was what we need to do to “grow up”.

Claim your child, the artist, inside ofyou.  Do not be ashamed.  We each still have our unique artistic side living inside. The more we tap into that energy, the more color and joy we bring to others as well as ourselves.  Don’t be afraid to add color to life.  It is a choice, joy is a choice too.

Don’t hide from yourself and others.  Let your creative side open up your child inside.  Allow Heavenly Father to help you.  Claim the child inside of you.  Have the faith of a child.  “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.” (Ps 8:2)

When I Was 14........

I was already 4 months into my freshman year of high school.  My best friend and I both got new jeans and jean jackets for the new school year.  Mine was all black and his was all blue denim.  We were totally not cool, we were freshmen.  I was playing the violin in the school orchestra and the only county youth orchestra.  Pegged pants, neon laces, and Michael Jackson were cool.  I was a skateboarder and towards the end of winter I went snowboarding for the first time and loved it.  I fell a bunch and by the way, pegged pants are very hard to get off when they are soaking wet.  Snowboarding was still outlawed on the California side of Lake Tahoe so we went to the Nevada side and also to Mt. Reba/Bear Valley.

I did well academically except for a science class.  I had a crush on the teacher.  There was a senior in the class too.  She liked my skater hair cut and would flirt with me all class period.  I had zero flirting skills so it was exciting and extremely frustrating at the same time.  I would go home and think up cool things that I should have told her, but being hours too late to actually say them.  I should have been studying my science instead.

That summer after freshman year I was racing my buddy down  a steep hill.  I beat him, the got “speed-wobbles” and ate it.  I had so much road rash, I couldn’t walk.  I still have scars on my knees and both sides of my hands from that fall.  I was also shaving my face regularly – some sort of Norwegian super beard thing.  I was a terrible shaver, I have a huge scar on the side of my face to prove it.  I have to explain that dumb scar every time I get a new barber to cut my hair.  I started playing football (JV) and started in all the preseason games. I played right guard.  Then one day after learning “Ollie North”, I was skating home and broke my left ankle trying to Ollie over a drainage ditch.  I was on crutches the rest of the football season – physical therapy either wasn’t in vogue yet or it wasn’t part of my Mom’s HMO.  I’m still missing ligaments in that ankle and there’s a dime-sized bone chip floating around in there that locks up the joint from time-to-time.

My Dad was in and out of rehab during this time. I wish he had been around to tell me how proud he is of me and how much he loves me.  I really wish he would have taught me how to shave or maybe how to talk to girls.  He could have helped me rehab my ankle and even given me some training pointers to make me a better athlete.  He should have taken me to church so I could develop an “eternal perspective” on life and not be so anxious about being cool or fitting in with my peers. 

It was during this time that I began to develop the philosophy that I would be a good man if I was the opposite of my Dad.  If you know me, you might see how that didn’t work out well for me.  If you really know me, then you know how hard I tried to follow hat on my own.  If you know me now, you’ll know I am never alone anymore – Jesus is with me and I also have a good relationship with my dad.  We have an eternal perspective that can see beyond our failings big and small. 

If I could give that special, loved 14 year old any advice then I would start with Jesus and the Bible.  Faith comes by hearing the word of God, so go to church and be motivated to develop and eternal perspective of your own.  Don’t just go through the motions.  Read and study the Bible a little bit every single day.  Do it first thing every morning and night.  Talk about anything you want.  You do this and you won’t have to worry about girls or peers.  Study to get all A’s.  Public school is super easy.  If you have anything less than an A, just ask your teacher what you can do to bring it up or how to get an A.  They are there because they enjoy helping kids learn.  As for athletics goes, read the book “Supple Leopard.”  It’s a weird title, but it is amazing.  It would help in football, running, skateboarding, snowboarding, you name it.  You’re young, so learn to push yourself harder while you still can.  Life is all about experiences, but it’s also the on-ramp to eternity, don’t get lost in the worldly, fleshly things and miss out on the eternal.

I love you, buddy.

Grace & Peace 

“Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.” (Prov. 10:12)

     We cannot cover our own sins.  We must uncover or acknowledge them to God which leads to God’s forgiveness and mercy.  David led by example: “I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid.  I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.” (Psalm 32:5) The Lord grants mercy to those who obey Him: “Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.” (Psalm 32:10) When we trust in Him, we will obey Him.

     Jesus adds to Heavenly Father’s conditions of mercy: we must not harbor resentment or unforgiveness if we truly want God’s mercy for ourselves; the mercy we show others is the mercy we’ll receive: “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matt 6:14-15, see also Mark 11:25-26) We are further commanded to forgive one another: “Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin. I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.  And ye ought to say in your hearts – let God judge between me and thee, and reward thee according to thy deeds.” (D & C 64:9-11, see also Rev. 20:12 & 2 Tim. 4:14).

     Jesus knew forgiveness brings joy: our “Sorrow shall be turned to joy.” (Jn. 16:20) Jesus came “that [we] might have life, and that [we] might have it more abundantly.” (Jn. 10:10) Living with sin or even bitterness and resentment is certainly not ‘abundant life.” He showed us the way and we are to help others find the way when Jesus commanded: “Ye are the light of the world….Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:14, 16) Letting your light shine begins with releasing resentment and forgiving others who have wronged you.

     So, let your light shine today.  Be a beacon that draws others unto Christ.  Leave any bitterness and all worries behind: “Cast thy burden upon the Lord and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved” (Psalm 55:22), “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31) Go forth and “walk as children of light.” (Eph. 5:8)

Grace & Peace

The Pure Love of Christ

1 Corinthians 13:2 says, “though I have the gift of prophecy and understanding all mysteries, and all knowledge; and thought I have all faith, so that I could move mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.” “Charity is the pure love of Christ” (Moro 7:47).

Charity “is everlasting love” (Moro 8:17).  The Lord calls us to be perfect (see Deut 18:13; 1 Kgs 8:61; 2 Chr 16:19; Matt 5:48; 2 or 13:11; Eph 4;12-13; ; Jas 1:4; D&C 76:69, 106) We must “put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness” (Col 3:14) so that we “may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God” (Col 4:12).

I say all of that to say this: I do not want to miss the chance to love you.  I want you to know that loving you is the most important thing to me and matters the most to me.  I just want the chance to let you see Jesus in me and through me.  I do not know when I will have the chance to love you as you deserve, but I will stand ready and patient on God’s timing.

I do love you with all my heart.

Grace & Peace be with you all

Visitation

I've been blessed with a visitation by my Dad & Step-Mom.  

I'm so thankful for being able to receive a visit.  Praise God!

Grace & Peace.

Blessing Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

We come to you now in the mighty name of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  We thank you for the atonement of Jesus Christ.  We thank you that your servants who humbly, carefully, diligently, and faithfully seek to obey all of your commands are blessed in the city and the country, that our children and their children are blessed, that our assets produce exceedingly abundantly, that we are blessed when we come in and when we go out, that our enemies will be defeated and flee from us in seven directions, that our storehouses are blessed, that everything we do is blessed, that you bless all the works of our hands, that we don’t need to borrow anything, but can lend to many, that we are the head and not the tail, that we only move upward and never downward, and that we are blessed to prosper abundantly and have many healthy, prosperous children.

As we walk in the light, we fellowship with you, Lord.  Our joy is complete as we seek You in Your Word.  Write Your Word upon the tablets of our hearts.  Search our hearts, oh Lord, find any unconfessed sin and remove any wickedness so we may have pure hearts and a righteous spirit within each of us.

Pour your Spirit unto us this day so we may have wisdom, understanding, love, peace, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control, and that we might receive all the promises of the Spirit while we walk in the Spirit always.

We pray, oh Lord, that you grant us, according to the riches of your glory, strength with power in our inner selves through Your Spirit, and that the Messiah continues to dwell in our hearts through our faith.  We pray that we are rooted and firmly established in love so we may comprehend the dimensions of Your love and understand the Messiah’s love for us that surpasses knowledge so that we might be filled with Your fullness.

We ask this according to Your power that works in us – To You our God be glory in Your true Church and in Jesus Christ and to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Intercession Prayer

Taken from Matt 12:29, Matt 9:38, and 2 Cor 4:3-4.  Pray for others:

            I rebuke you, spirit of evil blinding the eyes of __________, you are commanded to stop everything you are doing to keep __________ out of the Kingdom of God.  In Jesus’ Name you stop now!  Lord, send someone to __________ with the glorious gospel of Christ who You know __________ will listen to.  I claim __________ for the Kingdom of God. I believe I receive salvation and deliverance.  In faith I praise You for it.  I am standing on Your word, God.  I need your help and __________ needs Your help too.  Lord, I refuse to be afraid of the devil’s weapons brought against us because I know that according to Your Word, they cannot prosper.  I trust in Your protection, and I think You for it now.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Happy Birthday, Alyssa

3/3/15

Happy Birthday, Alyssa

            Let me first say that I will always believe in you.  You can meet any challenge that awaits you. I don’t ask you to succeed for me or anyone else but God.  I can imagine your graduations, your achievements, the life you will create.  When I think of you, I just see you.  I hope you can see yourself this same way.

            I want you to know I am proud of you.  I love you no matter what.  Nothing will ever change that.  Ever.

            You are God’s masterpiece.  “We are His workmanship” (Eph 2:10).  You are made in God’s image (Gen 9:6) and you are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps 139:14) since God’s hands fashioned you (Ps 119:73).  For this I thank God for your creation.  God is glorified in you.

            Did you know you are a miracle?  From the moment when you were just a few minutes old and you recognized my voice and your teeny tiny hand grabbed hold of my finger, I knew you were special.  You are so special to me, Peanut.

            Have a Happy Birthday.

Happy Birthday, Tessa

3/3/15

Happy Birthday, Tessa

You are now a fully vested adult.  You have every authority and responsibility one can have as an adult.  I hope you take this responsibility seriously.  Because I did not.

            Don’t let peer pressure steer your life.  We can choose to not be offended by the words or actions of others. When we unite in righteousness with others who are faithful, we are stronger in our battles against evil.  “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart is mouth speaketh.” (Luke 6:45)

            Just last week I helped lead a man to Christ.  To see his face and see how he acts you would be amazed. His heart has changed.  He is no longer that hardcore gang member I first met.  He is now a beacon of light.  With time he will become a very productive ambassador for Christ. (2 Cor 5:20).  I am excited by his transformation.

            I hope you too can find joy like this in your life.  My hope is you can find the joy and peace Isaiah speaks about in verse 51:11.

            Happy Birthday, Tess.

The Power of Prayer

I recommend you read the scriptures looking at how they can apply to your life.  The other day, I was reading Mosiah 27 in the Book of Mormon. I was touched by the story of young Alma being involved with all sorts of wickedness with King Mosiah’s sons.  Then an angel visited the wayward boys in an answer to intercessory prayer.  Alma’s family and friends were praying for them to stop their evil ways and return to God and accept redemption through grace.  This was a big moment in Alma’s life.  He finally repented and turned to God.  When we repent from sin, we repent to (turn to) God.  Alma didn’t stop there, he began to evangelize and share the gift of Christ – salvation from all sin.

Alma’s conversion reminded me of my own.  I was visited by an angel (of sorts) and after much investigation, scripture reading, and prayer I came unto repentance.  Now I continue my scripture education (pursuit of a Master’s degree in Christian Counseling) and sharing the Gift of Christ with everyone. Remember, Christ came for us sinners not for the righteous.

Well, another thing struck me: the answered prayer.  If we are in humble, right-standing, the Lord will answer our prayers (Mosiah 27:14).  I thought I would give it a try.  So, I prayed for one man in my dorm that he would turn to the Lord and that the right person would have the right words to help him along. The very next day, he came to my room to tell me he wanted to go to church.  I told him the time it started and he went on his way.  In 27 years he had not gone and was as far from the Lord as one can be, next without me saying anything to him, he went to church on his own.  Talk about an answered prayer!

I encourage you to wait on the Lord in faith.  The Lord will answer our prayers (Psalm 38:15).  The Lord will speak to the humble (Isaiah 38:15). In Mark II: 22-24, Jesus tells us we can move mountains with our faith.  When we ask in prayer, believe that we receive it, then it will be ours.  My favorite verses on prayer are in Revelation 5:8, 8:3-4 where it describes the prayers of the righteous as sweet incense to God in Heaven.

Keep Praying.

Grace & Peace

Happy Birthday Derek

1/16/2015

Happy Birthday, my Son.  A teenager – WOW!

While I am far away, please indulge me as I share some thoughts with you.  If you get nothing out of this, then at least it can be an object to rebel against.  When I was your age, I felt the need to rebel against something.  Perhaps, in time, you will re-read this and see that I do love you and that I want nothing but the very best for you.  The past cannot be undone, it can only be forgiven.

“Build me a Son, Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid… And then I, his father, may dare to whisper ‘I have not lived in vain.’” – General Douglas MacArthur

Derek, be strong, brave, careful, and considerate.  Men deal with the world. Boys are born to contest the world.  “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you, if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, but make allowance for their doubting too.” – “IF” by Kipling. 

Then you will succeed in my eyes.  I am proud of you.  I am proud of what you have achieved and overcome.

“Forgive me, I’ve done everything wrong, I have done nothing right.  I was, as a model, insufficient, and as a preceptor, hypocritical.  Here is what I wish to have said: Our time is almost done, and I have taxed you with my pomposity and garrulousness and officiousness, and you have been supremely patient with me.  But perhaps you might listen for just this last time, in the hope that these words might aid you.” –Polonius

Derek, your distance from God is based on your own standing.  God is where He has always been. “The best way to know God is to love many things.” – Vincent Van Gogh.  The power of love is the greatest power in the universe.  It’s beyond defeat.  It never fails (1 Cor 13:8).  God is love.  Releasing love is releasing God into any situation.  Then Jesus becomes responsible for its successful outcome.  Talk about powerful.  Keep faith, hope and love, but remember that love is the greatest of those.

I love you, buddy!

            -Dad

Pics of Ryan