Billings

Hi Family! 

This past ten days has been a blur and I am sorry I have taken so long to update. The trip to Billings was monumental for Tanner and I as we shared in the work of the ministry. We traveled, slept, ate, went swimming, led Bible studies, held a church service, went to bull ridings and enjoyed the company of some of the most dynamic men in the world. As usual I could spend several hours trying to communicate all the great things the Lord allowed us to share in but I will have to share only one story. 

     On the way to Billings Tanner and I stopped into a mountain lodge to get some breakfast. The café was empty of customers so Tanner and I took a seat at the bar. The waiter was a 21 year old man who was sitting there studying a book to prepare him to sign up for the Air force. Tanner had a dozen questions for him and in the way little Tanner so often does, he had this guy captivated. Tanner has a special quality about him that makes people feel comfortable talking but more than that they usually can’t help but have a smile on their face the whole time they are visiting with him. Adorable!   Anyway, back to the waiter. As we ate we began to visit about life’s transitions and how to fight your way out of the perpetual party mode and become a man, I shared a bit of my story. I told him how God had revealed his love for me when I was about his age and how ever since then he has been changing my heart as he Fathered me. God was raising me as his son. In a very honest and sincere way this young man said “I am not real religious but I need something like that.” I explained the Gospel to him and asked him if he wanted to pray and give his life to the Lord and allow him to be his Father. He said “Yes, but I don’t know how to pray” Tanner and I said we would help. So right there with the three of us sitting on bar stools, this young man prayed to receive Jesus as his Savior and entered into a Father – Son relationship with the creator of Heaven and earth. What a God we serve! We had a great breakfast, got to see the supernatural act of repentance, made a new friend and brother and got to share it all with my six year old son.  

     The rest of the weekend was a continuation of this great blessing as we went on to Billings and talked for the entire five hour drive about the things that consume the thoughts of a boy. We stayed that weekend in a room with Mike Lee, Dustin Hall and Kody Lostroh. What an adventure for young Tanner as he was being tended to by three bull riders and myself. He survived! 

     Today we are packing up and the whole family is headed to the Nampa, ID PBR for three days. From there, I will take 12 men and Colton (10 yr old) on a men’s retreat into the remote wilderness of Idaho. We will take a herd of horses, some food and hearts ready to hear from our Father. We will be back on wed. just in time to leave for Boise for the state wrestling tournament for Colton and Tanner. While I am in the mountains, Leslie will be hosting some woman in our home to share some time encouraging, instructing, worshiping, praying and even having a tea party. Brooks will be with me on this stretch and Stephanie will be with Leslie.

     Please be in prayer for all of this. In addition to the regular worship service and bible study we will be handing out about 500 dvd’s to fans as they enter the building. Got to go. Thanks for praying for us. 

 

In the service of the King, 

Todd and Leslie