Christmas in Mississippi

Family,food,and a whole lot of hunting. I have to say that this Christmas has been full of all of the above and has been an absolute blast so far, and with tomorrow being Christmas Day there is alot more family and food still left to go. But looking back on this week the best part was just hanging with my brother's. We dont get to spend alot of time together nowadays, were all growing up and kinda finding our path, but it was cool just sitting in the woods or just staying up late watching movies hanging out. We went to the grandparent's in Mississippi for a week and had Christmas there, then hunted and slept, some much needed sleep at that. I probably slept more in the woods than inside this week, actually I was out one day while it was raining (all day) and sitting up by a tree and woke up to the sun going down and the rain still falling. It was about 40 degrees I dont know how that happened but thank goodness for Gortex(rain proof grear). But we did bring home some meat my brother shot a 500 hundred pound Russian Boar and I got a 4 point again, Ray actually shot that Boar at 160 yrds running it was an awesome shot but heavy as mess to drag out of the woods. But with all of hunting there has to be some eating to. I had enough Gumbo and greens to last a month. It was a great week and hopefully will be able to go back before we start the new semester and hunt some more. But anyways have a Merry Christmas and enjoy the food, family and friends and most important of all remember the reason for it all the birth of the Savior, JESUS.

Paw Paw Dan

Maw Maw Joan

My Rib and Me(Rib AKA Heather)

Paw Paw Cecil's House

Me Ray Lance (Hog 500 pds)


My 4 point

The Craziest Christmas Outreach Ever

So let's just start from the beginning.After school kids,presents,the bus getting wedged under an overhang, games food and fun, and finally church. These are just some of the few things that took place today at the Winbourne Facility(the newest dream center of HPC). It was such an awesome day and a huge win for the kingdom. But with a little over 800 people on campus there was a whole lot of organized chaios going on, but it was such a blast.For the last couple weeks the outreach team has really been working hard to get the whole event ready and prepared so that we could reach the community the best we can for this Christmas Holiday's. And man they really pushed through and God's hand really blessed the event. You know I hear so much from people all the time you can never change people, you can never make a diffrence with this kind of coulture. It's sad when I hear that because it's not about changing people to our ways, it's about reaching one person at a time and sharing the Love of Christ with them and then let Jesus do the rest. We cant change people but we can certianly point them to the one that can. I love this outreach because after all the ONE'S that we have been reaching, God turned the one's into many, it was great. We feed people gave away free toys and did free bus rides all over town, as you can see from the pic below (haha). But it's all about people, not toys or money or how many came but about individual people and them knowing about Jesus. That's what its all about. Thankyou Jesus for the priveledge to serve, it's awesome.

After School Kids helping out with the Christmas Outreach

Presents for the kids

This is us Wedged under a building in the Bus picking up people.


Melvin Holding up the escape hatch we had to remove in order to get the bus out.

Fun Food and Games

Church service packed out.

The Cross In All we Are

Just a quick thought. It is so Awesome that God in the simplest of ways shows his plan for salvation in almost everything about us, have you ever looked at people when they worship and they have there hands out in the air at there side, it makes the shape of a cross. I thought that was amazing because the very act of worship by Jesus to God was his death on the cross. And it's amazing how when we worship we are making the very shape of the cross, the very symbol Christ made towards God, the ultimate form of Worship, death to self and Glory to God. What else brought more Glory to God than the Cross, Nothing. It's funny how our worship our shape even points people to the cross. Also I listened to a message by Louie Giglio probably one of the most slamming messages I've ever herd about Laminin, it is the most esential protien in the body the holds everything together, everything in our body is kept together by this protien and it is the shape of the cross. That is so awesome, alot of times I find myself wanting to see God in huge miracles but it so funny how if we just slow down his greatest creation of all shows AN AMAZING example of his Love. God is in the business of showing us what he is all about and who he is all about if we just listen and search for him. What an awesome God.

Honeymoons Official

It's official were going to the Royal Carribiean. I am so excited, these are some pics from where we will be staying in Jamacia. We have only a few months left till our wedding day June 27 but it will be here before we know it. But it was really cool because we made our final reservation's a few days ago so we will be on our way at the end of Elevate once we get married. Anyways tell us what you think and stay tuned till next post.

A Family First

Well Thanksgiving has come and gone but one of the things I Love the most is family time, it seems like nowadays it comes so few and far between with all our different lives but I definitely soak it all up when we have those moments. This year was definitely one of them. The Big Hunt. We Love Hunting in my family, or anything to do with guns really, but we Love being in the woods and just plain old Hunting. And this year was special because my younger brother Lance and me got to spend allot of time together and go on two Hunts together. But the special moment was on the 22nd. We had just finished resting from afternoon lunch and decided to get ready for our hunt that night. It had been foggy and rainy all day so we decided to leave early at around 2:15 because the deer were moving all day. Lance went to the bottom field in a stand and I took off up the road to a field connected to the pipe line. Now anyone that knows me knows that I get pretty crazy when it comes to Hunting, allot people get excited because they get the deer meat I get excited because I get to say I outsmarted the animal. I stalked and killed the deer and he never knew I was there. I go into warrior mode and really picture myself as man vs beast. Yeah it's kinda weird but I'm just kinda wired that way. But at 5:15 after being on the stand for a couple of hrs I hear a shot, and sure enough it came from the bottom field. Now I wasn't sure if Lance had shot anything yet so I stayed on the stand and at 5:30 I saw a buck walking out of the field, Yep you guessed it, VAPORISED. So after I shot him I jumped on the 4 wheeler to head back to the house to find my 13 yr old brother riding on his 4 wheeler with my grandmother getting ready to go and get his deer. It was pretty funny. It was A Family First two deer in one night and it was my brothers first. I'm definitely not a dad yet but it does even now make me realise how cool those moments are. Cherish the memories, it is easy to get consumed in work sometimes but times like that remind me what it's all about, People, mainly your Family. I had a great Thanksgiving and great time with the family. After it was over we stayed up until 1:30 cleaning the deer, It was big brother teaching little brother and after that we got some sleep. It was a great Thanksgiving, Mrs Claudia always tells me if you have the choice between money or memories chose memories, and it so true they always last longer and are so much more valuable.


This is the E-true Hollywood Bambi Story



Hunting in a shed behind the house watching a field early morning

Elevate Thanksgiving Party

So What is Thanksgiving without a whole bunch of Pilgrim's and Indians. That's right the first ever Elevate camp Mayflower dinner festival. HaHa, I have to say it was a great time. We had everything you could think of for food and we even had a vicious game of dodge ball with rubber chickens. Of course us Indians won, it was probably due to the tightness of the stockings on the pilgrim's legs, they were unable to move very effectively thus making them easy prey. But none of this would have been possible if it was not for our fearless leaders Rob and Michelle, they graciously opened there home and allowed us crazy people to come and enjoy there company. It was a good time of fellowship and a great day with friends. Thanksgiving, there is always so much to be thankful for but the two things I always think about the most are God and family. Without Jesus there would be no reason of value to be thankful for and for the family he has given me. Sure we are a bit crazy at times but I wouldn't want it any other way. So be blessed this Thanksgiving, tell someone serving these Holidays thank you, to all my Marine Brothers out there Semper Fi. And most importantly tell your family how much they mean to you even if they do make you crazy. It's always a great time to reflect and see how much God has blessed you. And to sit in a deer stand and wait on that big buck to come out and get smoked haha. Happy Holidays everyone now let's eat.


What's Thanksgiving without a good scalping, sorry Dustin, by the way that's his real hair.

Me and my Little Chippewas, by the way that feather came from a Bald Eagle

Pilgrim's

Us Indians being taught the Word by our Pilgrim Brothers

Dinner

Your young men will see visions.

In the past month God has really been giving me some awesome dreams that I have been journaling privatly but these last two I cant help but share. So Heather and me have been watching God move big time in our live's for the last couple of Months and it's amazing how he loves you so much he wont let you Go in his call where he does not want you. I used to think for along time that I was going to pastor a church but in the last year God has really moved my heart in a diffrent direction. For awhile I was like this is not cool what am I called to do, I thought I knew but Obviously God had diffrent Ideas. Now before I went to Africa I never felt called to Missions and when I came back from Africa I never felt called to Missions, but once again God always has diffrent plans. 3 Months after coming back I was sleeping one night and I had this Dream. I was standing in this open field that had small bushes in it and some shrubs. While in this field I noticed this big rock structure I started to walk towards and as I was walking I was pushing through some of the bushes until I came to an opening, once I walked into this opening I saw someone I work with at the Church picking up sticks and rocks. I called out to them but they never answered so I just kept walking towards the rock, once I got to the rock I noticed a bunch of lions all Laying down with thir back towards me but the biggest male lion was staring right at me. As I stood in fear the Lion just kept staring, after about 30 seconds of staring at each other I took off running once I turned around I saw a tree that was really tall and by it self. I climbed up the tree to the fork in the branches and looked down the lion was dirrectly behind me climbing up the tree tearing up the trunk with his claws. I got to the side and as he came at me I was scared he was coming after me, but as he got to me he stared right at me as He passed. Then he went out on this branch that was about 200yrds long all the way to the end and the branch bent over, as he got to the very end there was a group of black sillouets all over the place. The Lion looked back at me and then jumped into the center of the group and then I woke up. Now this is where it gets crazy. Last year I was in the Pastor's track for school this year I signed up for Pastors track again but did not end up getting the class. I did not even sign up for Missions Stream but the day we start school this year I was assigned to Missions stream, God has a funny since of humor. A week after this dream I was walking to class an out of nowhere, like an audible voice I just herd the word Kenya in my head. It stopped me in my tracks and scared the mess out of me. That night I had this dream, It was a dark room and after a while the Lions face appeared right in front of me, he stared at me for awhile again and all of the sudden he raised his paws up put them on the side of my face. Then he opened his mouth and pulled me in and swolled me, then he walked down this road and the road was in Africa, and then he walked into a building and the building was full of people. Once he got to the end of the Aisle he stopped and began speaking and everyone listened. As he finished speaking he then walked to the coast and looked back at the city and the whole city was covered in Gods word and people everywhere were coming to Jesus. Now I know you want to know the rest and what the dreams me but Im gonna write the rest of that in the next Blog so it will All fit so stay tuned.

What is your Encounter

So when you think about an encounter with something you usually think about first impressions right, but as I thought about something today, the word encounter, it really shook me up. If someone were to show up late to an event and there excuse was, well I got a flat and my wrench rolled over into the street as I was changing my tire. When I went to go and get it this huge 18 wheeler rolled over me and smashed me so it took me awhile to get up and get here. My first thought is either you are a complete lunatic, or you don't realize that I know your lying. To have an encounter with something that size would definitely change your life if not kill you,and as I was thinking about that don't we all say at some point we have had an encounter with Jesus by a t-shirt we wear or by a fancy necklace we have on. If we truly have an encounter with the one true Living God, Jesus Christ, who is far bigger than an 18 wheeler, who is the creator of the heavens and earth, don't you think people should be able to see the encounter we have had a little more obvious than a christian logo we wear. I couldn't help but think about this do I let the material I wear speak louder than the very mouth he created on me to proclaim his name. I wonder, do I let the shoes Im wearing speak louder than the very walk he commissioned me to carry out to the world, I wonder. The encounter is a very scary thought to me b/c it really reminds me how much I give into the flesh encounter daily rather than the almighty encounter. I thank God for his loving Grace and Mercy that gives us a new encounter everyday, it's so good to know that we serve a father who has immeasurable compassion. Think about the encounter, or better yet what are we encountering today, JUST US OR JESUS. I hope the encounter we have had is big enough for others to see without me having to say a word, I hope that is my encounter.

Thankyou For Your Love

Some of the College students worshipping at the Fusion Retreat

Just a friendly game of DodgeBall "Hey if you can dodge a wrench you can dodge a ball"


Have you ever come to a place in life where all you can think about is the Love that so graciously saved us, so perfectly covered us, and so selflessly gave to us. I've been in that place for the past couple of days. It's been hard for me for the past year because I've watched so many people close to me turn from the faith and walk out on God or just decide that without him things would be better. This past week I had an old friend decided to tell me he had become an athiest, my first thought was wow, what brought him to that place, how did he become so focused on his problems that he forget about the one who could fix them. It is truly heartbreaking for me to hear things like this, my best friend of 16 yrs I dont even talk to anymore because he dosent want anything to do with Jesus anymore, and dosent want to be around people that do, I just cant understand. I look at all these stories that people are writting in their lives and it brought me to a couple of verses the 1ST is Proverbs 19:3 People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord. All these people I have watched make decisions that have led down the wrong road and then when bad things happen they get angry at God for letting it happen. I pray that I never get to a place where I think someone else is responsible for my own actions, Let me be accountable for what I do, but most of all let me be led by Christ so my heart stays pure in this world. The 2nd scripture is Matthew 25:9-13 Then you will be arrested,persecuted,and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn from away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will decieve many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere and the Love of many will grow cold. BUT THE ONE WHO ENDURES TO THE END WILL BE SAVED. I just thought to myself, father we are all one step away from finding a reason to run from you, thankyou so much for your Love that keeps me in your arms. I could be one of my old friends but Im not. For some reason Im still here, with you, Thankyou for Your Love. I pray God that you dont deliver me from the trial but develope me in it, someone who dosent know you yet needs me to come through this trial so they will know what you can do for them. Let us Endure till the end. Our Hope, let it be in him and not ourselves. As I was at the Fusion retreat this weekend I was thinking about how blessed I was to still be in his presence, let us believers remember that it is such a priveledge to be near him, when we remember this we will have a greater love towards those who dont know him yet. Thankyou Jesus So Much For Your LOVE.

My 23 Birthday

Ok So my Birthday was October 30 and I know it's been a few days but I'm just now getting to blog. I'm finally 23 and it's really scarry to be honest, I never really have handeled the age thing to well. There is always that since in me that says you can go 5 days without sleep, and run 18 miles without stopping, and lift a 1000 pounds without ever pulling a muscle. I have deffinatly discovered that a few years in the Marines and plenty of sports injuries catch up with you, haha. And that Im invenciable mentallity only last till your 18. But it was a great day we went to the new cabellas that just opened up and then we went to cracker barrel to have dinner, after we headed home watched spider man 3 and ate some cake. As I get older I have come to value the few times with family I get nowaday's alot more than spending time with something else. I always find it interesting how just a day with a title on it always gives you a new perspective on things in life. One year older, but diffrent outake on things, more aware and much more intentional. I love how value comes with understanding, now that I understand what is so important I can see why it is so valuable to me. The greatest presents always come from God this year he gave me time with family, 4 yrs ago on Paris Island, I turned 19, then he let me know how important my family really is. But this year it was just time, soak it up because there are only so many more days where presents can be given. And only so many more days where I can stuff my face with cracker barrell pancakes.

Lance,Heather,Mom, Me

Me stuffing my face with pancakes

Cracker Barrell

Life For Marriage, Dinner Night

I have to say Sunday night was absolutly awesome, with great friends and tons of amazing food it was a great way to wrap up the first half of Life for Marriage class. Todd and Candy are absolutly wonderful people for letting us come and fellowship with them at there restaurant, Sno's Seafood. If you have never been there go check it out they have some killer bread pudding. We have been in the class for 6 weeks now and Brother Wayne and Mrs. Dee are the best teachers you could ask for,it's really cool b/c we go to class during 10:00 service and then head straight from there to 12:00 service at Highland. So we get to hear alot of fresh word and it really helps us grow. But last week Bro. Wayne decided to bless us with a date night for the half way point and it was great, hey being in Elevate means no Money and very little food,or time with the lady, cant pass that up. So we played games, ate alot and then chowed down on some dessert, I dont even remember falling asleep last night I was so full. But with all that said there was nothing better than fellowshiping with one another and enjoying everyones company, sometimes the best things about ministry are just sharing life with one another especially over a good meal. Oh yeah, did I mention Heather and me won a $25 gift card to the mall I have to say she brings me all the blessings, I would have won a dirty pair of socks without her haha. Great Fellowship and Great Word, thats what it's all about,It's all for HIM

Heather and Me

My Boy Edwin and His Wife Jennie

Mrs.Dee,Heather,Bro.Wayne,and Me. You couldnt ask for any greater teachers.

Mrs.Dee leading the Q&A game for the couples.

Few Days For the Ladies

So from Thursday to Saturday there has been an abundance of pink,gold,black and tons of other colors for the Live the Dream Women's conference at the Church. Immediately after Friday morning I headed to a wedding for Heather's brother,that I just so happened to be a Groomsman in. It was a very pretty night at Houmas House plantation, and as I sat at the reception Friday night I just started laughing, What a past few days for the Ladies. Even though I have been surrounded by estrogen up to my eyebrows for the past few days with a Wedding and a Women's Conference it has all been great. Jesus really touched lives this week and women were living the dream." Alot of us guys were joking that with all the girlie stuff around us guys were living the nightmare haha. But it was all great. The wedding was alot of fun too,Tim is no longer the oldest living bachelor in America haha he is married now, if you have ever seen My big Fat Greek Wedding you would understand why we all cracked jokes on him about, Tim we never think this happen for you. But with all the food and the fun behind us now it's time for some much needed Man time. Football and Rambo marathons, Braveheart, and Gladiator. Well all in all it was an awesome week and still more like it to come. Till next time Go Live the Dream

Beautiful

Just Rehearsing ours

Happy Birthday Sleepy

Friends, Family , and a Birthday Girl

Mr.Lou Making sure everything is staying Holy

Heather, Me, Caleb, and Kelsey

Oct 23 is a special day, why you ask? Well it just so hapens to be Heather's birthday. The big 22, it was a simple gathering with simple people and alot of cake and ice cream. You can always thank Mr. Lou for the extra notches in the belt. But another year has passed and another memory in the books, I think I liked it best when Mr.Lou said it was her last birthday as a Leblanc. Yep next time come around and she will be a Pickens, what can I say welcome to the family. But all in all there is nothing better than spending time with crazy kids all running around and lot's of fun stories being told. Yes the good ol days. Happy Birthday Heather, thankyou so much for being so patient with me, I truly am blessed and I cant say that enough. Love you, Papa Bear

New Mornings and New Man

So I have been gone for awhile, it might seem a little odd for that to be a good thing in the blogging world but it has truly been a blessing for me. New seasons and a new life, there is so much to share and so many to thank. And all because of Grace, thankyou Father, for the many times you have so freely graced us, but then I remember that Grace is not free, it is not a christmas present that is found so ritually under a cut down sapling. It is a grace that is found under the foot of the cross and a grace that only the Loving mercy of a father can give to his son or daughter. It is good to be back. For who the Son has set free is free indeed. And he who has been forgiven much Loves much. There is so much Love to talk about and there is so many people to love, the lost, the saved, and the multitudes in the valley of decision. What a priveledge, to have New Mornings. For the Sun rises and sets on his timing and new men are awaken to his light. Thankyou Father that you love and that the price you paid has given us all a gift of free Grace

The Big Finale and the Open Road

Well Thursday night we had our big Bar B-QUE and final show for the parents for VBS. There was over 220 people that showed up for the event and over 3/4 of them were first time visitors. God really did awesome things this week and moved the hearts of Danville like only he can. There was so much work that went into the event and God really blessed us for all the effort put into VBS. Countless hours and a tremendous lack of sleep the amazing people of HPC Danville with Gods annointing did an awesome job. With all of that said it has now become a bitter sweet moment for me. Saturday morning I head out on a long drive back home and I am so looking to see my Love Heather, the family, and just get back to rocking and rolling at the Highland Campus with my Refuge guys. But at the same time there are some relationships I have built here that I am sad to see continue from a distance. Great people like Pastor Rob and Brianna Read, Tyler and Michelle Douglass my extended family, Roger and Kathy Gunderson and so many more, also my boy Ricki great servant and one day a great leader. It was truly an awesome experience and journey for me to look into the lives of the great men and women here and share life with them, I am so thankful for their Hearts and how they serve and for allowing me the opportunity to be apart of what God is doing. HPC Danville has changed my life and truly has become closer to my heart than I would have ever known.




Two thousand one hundred and ninty five miles of open road, what do you see in front of you. For me it was a journey, and an experience I will never forget. I have grown so much and have learned a lifetime. Now it's time to start again, moving closer towards Christ, and knowing that only on the path less followed is the path that leads to him. Thankyou Danville you guys are Awesome.

VBS and a whole lot of KIDS

Well today was the first day of Vacation Bible School and the turn out was awesome. With a few friends out from the Highland Campus in Baton Rouge to help out, and the great team here at Danville the day was a huge impact for the kingdom. With all the work that has gone into the week, sleepless nights,long days of painting, mixing cement,and building sets it finally has all come together. God has truly blessed us with such a great opportunity to reach the world, weather in Mozambique Africa or Danville California lives are being touched and Souls are being won to the Kingdom. To God be the Glory.

Heather,Me,and Becky Perkins