SecondIron's Blog

Sharpening Iron to Live Second

Hearts of Children Wipe it all Away

I am currently in Port-au-Prince, Haiti after spending our first day back in Canaan. This marks our third trip in the last seven months. Each time we come things are a little different. On our first day it was traffic that slowed us down a bit. Although a bit stressful the slow-moving gave me an opportunity to take the country in. When we arrived at the school the kids were hard at work. They stopped what they were doing and stood to sing a welcoming song as we entered. There is nothing more beautiful than the voices of children singing on a mountainside. We were there to do some work and gather more information on the kids for their sponsorship packages. We were also there just to love on them. Some of the children remembered us and openly shared. Others were a bit shy, yet opened up when they saw we cared. It was a hot and busy day, we got to see the orphanage that will soon be done. It still needs a roof before it can provide shelter for the abandoned. Growing up as an orphan, this has a special place for me. I cannot wait to sit in traffic again. All the people, cars, dogs and donkeys will not keep us from the mountain. Seeing the smiles of the children wipes away all the inconveniences of this world. It is for the children of Haiti that we continue to return. To learn more about how you can help please visit theVine.co

Why Launch Out Is More About Community Than Anything

In my last post, I talked about the 5 Reasons Why You Should go to Conferences and the ways attending can improve your life. Little did I know that the most unconference conference, Launch Out, would be much more about community than a conference. This past weekend we traveled to Atlanta GA to attend our second Launch Out conference. Having attended last year’s Launch Out in Nashville, I thought I knew what to expect. I went into the conference knowing there would be hugs, great stories from some incredible speakers and even possibly some tears. Knowing all that still did not prepare me for the community that awaited. Unlike most conferences, including last year’s, this time, I felt I knew many of the attendees. Rather than hiding wanting to curl up in the fetal position I decided to embrace the crazy. Instead of going as an attendee to absorb everyone else’s dreams. This time, I had applied to be a speaker. Why not join the Dreamers and share my thoughts right? After some discussion with the organizers, they felt a panel would best fit my topic of interest. Initially, I was a bit put off. I applied to speak! Not share the spotlight with others, I thought. Powers greater than me and a message bigger than anything I could prepare was in the works if I would just listen. I don’t care why you go, just meet me on the mountain. Click To Tweet After sharing and hearing from many other great speakers, it was […]

Have We Forgotten How to Forgive?

Fourteen years ago our country was brought to its knees by terrorist. Since then many have forgotten how to forgive. Every anniversary we see mantras about ‘we will never forget.’ Anyone that was old enough to understand then never will. Yet fourteen years later our country again is being brought to its knees. Internal discontent has formed such animosity towards each other. No longer do we need to fear al qaeda so much as we fear our own brothers and sisters. A string of unfortunate circumstances has sprung a leak of hate that is infesting our nation. As Christians we struggle to remain prayerfully hopeful. Jesus gave us a prescription for our lives that can be a bitter pill. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Did you hear that? Read it again “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Those five simple words can be difficult to comprehend. How do you love your neighbor that molest children? How can you love your neighbors that rape, kill and pillage? Those whose lives matter and yet they call for an all out war on those that serve and protect? Loving your neighbor as yourself,  means loving those that shoot up college campuses or movie theaters. Loving would be forgiving those that took down the towers. Loving means forgiving, not necessarily forgetting. The day after this fourteenth anniversary of 9/11, I will be on a plane to Haiti. Answering the call to serve the forgotten. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son.” He sent his […]