Death Has No Sting

~ Oct. 7, 2025 ~

“I woke up in Colombia overlooking a sea of red-roofed houses scattered throughout the valley, leaving no crevasse uncovered, with clouds gently descending over the mountain tops, keeping the higher cities hidden away. I’m surrounded by a bustling city with every kind of transportation swarming the streets. Old brick houses stand around as though they have been there before life began. The brick walls keep me nicely tucked away within a dimly lit oasis. A large window sits as a centerpiece, almost demanding you look not at it, but through it.”

~ The Foundation ~

Being here at Regugio de Fundación (refuge for the homeless/a bakery/a rehab program/a church/a thrift store), we have become a jack of many trades, if you will. We helped in the kitchen, recycled paper, helped with a food drive in the Broncs, prayer walked the streets, painted the bathrooms, went paragliding, led a youth group, built lasting relationships, enjoyed time of fellowship with the squad, and shared in the goodness of God. Witnessing believers around the globe be obedient and steward the flame in their hearts is truly one of the most encouraging things for me. Being a part of this community for a short season and worshiping with the people of Columbia had spurred me on in a spirit of celebration.

~ Death has no sting ~

While I believe this season has served as a time of preparation, I witnessed many things being brought to completion. One of them being my life for example… well, almost. On a real note, living in a bustling city for a while had me iching for some grass. Embarking to find some nature, our leadership team went to venture to a near by place we knew to have some residing grass. Prior to this, I had let a request for a patch of grass slip into one of my prayers one day, so you could say I was pretty pleased with the fruition of this prayer. I was doing cartwheels, rolling down the hill and running the stairs when shortly after laying down for a few moments, I started to feel imense pain in my head and my hands and feet started going completely numb. In response to the pain, I became unconscious and was told I turned totally white in the face. This all happened probably in the same time it took you to read about it. My friends attempted to move me out of the sun and but I was completely cripped by pain in my stomach and really my whole body at this point, that it made it very difficult. But nonetheless, my friend carried me down the stairs into a sheriffs car to be sent to the hospital. When I was at the bottom of the stairs, I collapsed and came to a point where I guenuinely thought I was about to see God. My heart was pretty thrilled, but I did consider that would be hard for people close to me.

It’s quite strange to reflect on this moment now, having felt so near to death and so much peace in the same moment. Ironically, I made a comment about living today like it was my last before this, and it seems the Lord really showed me what that meant. I realized that there was more I hadn’t died to in a spiritual sense. The concerns I had for that day grew very dim and my only concern became letting those around me know how deeply I love them. I started to regain consciousness in the car, and all I could think was how honored I felt by God to have allowed me to experience such closeness to Him in such a moment.

All this to emphasize the kindness of God to preserve me, give me fresh perspective on the fragility of life and ignite me in new purpose. There came a point in my time in Columbia where I just felt so small in the grand scheme of His sovereignty. He certainly doesn’t need me in order to fulfill His purpose on the earth and He is glorified all the same with or without me, so what’s the point? That sounds like a pretty depressing thought, but when you realize what coexists with that reality, it is incredibly humbling, yet honoring all the same. It’s actually for His PLEASURE that He brings us into Himself and we exist as the church to REVEAL the glory of God to a world without the hope of Christ. When I came out of the hospital almost completely fine and having no record of any sort of health issue, the truth of His love and purpose for me became a deep truth in my heart.

Life is so much sweeter when you are already dead.

Let me expound… when I release control over my relationships, possessions, plans, time, expectations, or tasks, I genuinely get to enjoy them to greater degrees when there is no initial entitlement to them in the first place. Though I have only scratched the surface of this experience, I know that giving up everything in our lives is one of the most liberating feelings in the world. I have been filled with indescribable joy by the simplest things, because I know deep in my heart that what I deserve in so much less. Anything greater than sin, death, and destruction is an act of grace and mercy. The mere fact that I have breath in my lungs is because of His mercy, and to say that, on top of that, I have right to EVERYTHING in the heavenly realms because of His blood is astounding. As long as I still have time on earth, just to offer the invitation to partake in this divine love is all I aim to do with my life. If it means I simply wash a dish in His name and for His fame, so be it.

Who am I that you consider me??

The gospel in its fullest form will make you feel like the most insignificant piece of dust known to man, simultaneously feeling absolutely bombarded by the love of the Father, all in the same breath. How great a grace!

With that in mind, the way I operated in ministry, relationships, and just life in general came from a deep appreciation for just the day’s existence. I will refrain from recounting every event of this month and leave you with this: where is He inviting you to join with Him in His death? May hope for glory and resurrection life spur you on to lay more of your life on the altar?

May He multiply your offering and develop in you a deep joy and confidence in Christ to count Him worthy of EVERYTHING.