Welcome, Todd Newsom!

This is just a quick post to welcome my old friend Todd Newsom to the wonderful world of Blogging. Todd used to be our youth minister here at Vaughn Park, but he and his sweet wife Amy have since moved on to Texas. Since he is a youth minister, I'm sure he'll have plenty to share about what's going on with his youth group and, more importantly, the Lord. Todd has also served in the Marines, so he has quite alot to say about military and war issues (check out his first post and you'll see what I'm talking about).

Welcome, my friend! It's great to have you!

By the way, the big Mexico trip is less than 48 hours away!!!!

--Eric G.

"One of the Baldwin Brothers is a Christian?"

The subject line of this post is what I actually said last week when I heard Steven Baldwin (the actor...brother of Alec and William) being interviewed on my favorite morning radio program. He was talking about how he had been searching for God for the past 10 years or so since his wife got saved. Just after 9/11 he made the choice. Now he goes all over the U.S. giving his testimony and operating a ministry that is targeted especially at teenagers. Isn't it amazing what God can do with people that seem unreachable? Who would've thought that the guy who was in the movie "Biodome" with Pauly Shore would be out preaching the word? Praise God!

Here's his ministry website: www.livinit.org

If you know someone who is into extreme sports, especially skateboarding, and you've been trying to reach them for the Lord, Steven's "Livin' It" DVD might be just the right tool you need. I've seen it and it's really cool!

SOLI DEO GLORIA!
(To God Alone be the Glory!)

--Eric G.

Welcome Ed Harrell!

Once again, another friend has joined the Blogging fray! Ed Harrell is a good friend from church whom I've grown to know and love over the past couple of years. He and his wife, April, are very special people who love God and their family a whole lot. Ed has a great, yet twisted sense of humor, kind of like me. He also has some great spiritual insight!

Check him out:
Ed's Blog

Enjoy!
--Eric G.

3 Weeks Away!!!

Well, three weeks from right now, I'll be on a plane with 40 other people from Vaughn Park, wingin' our way out to San Diego, where we'll drive on down across the border into Mexico for 6 days of ministry in the Baja village of Maneadero. The excitement is mounting and my heart is beginning to race just thinking about it!

The past few weeks, I've been trying to prepare myself both mentally and physically for the trip. Physically, I really wish I was in better shape, because we'll be outside in the heat most of the time we're there. Our plan is to build 2 houses, 3 outhouses, and a playground, along with conducting a Vacation Bible School and a Revival in the evenings. As I have said before, THIS IS NOT A VACATION! Although I'm not in the prime physical condition that I wish I was in, I've been able to build up an endurance for working outside in the heat over the last couple of weeks by getting some much needed work done around the house. Meloney has kept me busy by totally redoing the outside of our house (replacing bad wood, hanging shutters, repainting everything, etc.). When I get done, the house will look great and I think I'll be ready for some more work helping the people of Mexico.

I have also tried to stay in shape spiritually. I've been spending a lot of time in God's word, as well as spending some time with some of my favorite authors: Max Lucado, Charles Swindoll, and Mike Cope, just to name a few. God has really been blessing me through these brothers, and I've been spending a lot of time with him in prayer as well.

I ask that you do the same. PLEASE continue to pray for me as I study God's word and prepare for this trip. Also, keep the whole team from Vaughn Park as we are getting ready for some serious work for the Kingdom of God!

SOLI DEO GLORIA! (To God Alone be the Glory!)

--Eric G.