Matthew 13:31-33 ESV
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
Some of you already know what many of you are about to find out. I’m moving. I’m leaving my beloved home state of Louisiana, where we boil critters for food, use household items as musical instruments, and speak a dialect of French barely recognizable by the French . I have made many fond childhood memories here, I will miss this place and the people in it tremendously. But God… But God has done profound things in my life, and so my journey continues. My journey picks up in a strange new land of snow, Germans, and lakes. It will be a strange land indeed for this Cajun, but I am convinced that God has blessed this endeavor, so I forge headlong into this new chapter in my life with fear and trembling, but also with boldness and confidence. Your prayers are coveted right now.
I am moving to Minnesota to further my education. I will be attending Bethlehem College and Seminary to pursue a degree in Biblical and Theological Studies. Yep, you read that right, I am going to bible college. By now, some of you are shaking your head saying “Are you serious?” I am. Very serious. The events of my life during the previous six years are nothing if not miraculous, and most of you know it. Drugs, alcohol, fights, lust, debauchery: these things were a normal part of my life prior to a few years ago. But God has done a great thing in me, He has made me new. He has so worked in my life that I don’t even know me anymore. I don’t, but I do. I know exactly who I am. Therefore, I have decided to devote the next four years of my life to the rigorous study of the Word of this God that has done this to me. I figured that if he’s big enough, powerful enough to do what he has to me, then his Word deserves my full attention. I am going to Minnesota to get to know my Creator, my King. I want to know Him in a way that only intimate study can provide.
Teri, my loving and ever-understanding wife, actually agreed to this. Now that is a grace from above! She is really going along with this whole thing, it’s hard to believe for me. But God is good. Teri has been such a blessing in my life. Her and I have been on quite the journey since we’ve met and I am extremely excited about the chapters yet to unfold. I praise God for giving me such a beautiful woman, beautiful in character and physique, to share my life with. There is no other woman on the planet that I’d like to have walking side by side with me. She’s so strong, even when I’m so weak. She’s got eyes to see, even when I lose sight of things. She’s soft-hearted, even when I’m hard-headed. I love her and I know God has many great things planned for us. I can’t wait.
So we’re off!
We say so long to the place where the mud is black and the bayou water is brown. 🙂 We say farewell to our many irreplaceable friends and family. We love you, and we’ll be back…maybe. We say hello to frigid winters and downtown traffic. My encouragement to all of you is that if you don’t know Him, get to know Him. God is real. God is good. God Is.
May the God of scripture bless and keep you all,
Jonathan Crappel
Philppians 3:7-11
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
P.S. – If you’re in the area we are having a huge moving sale this weekend, June 17-19. We have tons of stuff for great prices. Come see us at 4205 Hwy 24 Bourg, LA. A short list of some of the stuff we have for sale: 3 Laptops, Truck tool box, fiberglass truck bed cover, tons of baby stuff, decor, clothes, shoes, furniture, pots n pans, crib bedding, and much more!!!
Free to Think 
