Hey guys

So my 21st birthday is coming up.

I've been learning a lot about myself and about God this past year. And the more I look at the gospel, the more I am humbled when I realize that Jesus sacrificed everything and extended tremendous amounts of grace to us so that we can be changed people. Not only does Jesus change us, but Jesus invites us to die to self and partner with him to be agents of change in this world.

This is something I've been learning and wrestling with for a long time. My natural instincts are to defend myself and preserve my life. I feel entitled to my small comforts and live for small moments of happiness. However, Jesus invites us to trade our small comforts, our menial sorrows, and our small dreams for something greater and better. He invites us into God's Kingdom where there is completeness, peace, joy, and shalom.

I've always considered my birthday to be something of importance in my life. Remembering and celebrating my birthday was equivalent to remembering who I am. And like many, I've looked forward to my 21st birthday.

In an exercise of dying to my self, I am asking you guys to NOT celebrate me (and not to destroy my liver with liquor). Instead, donate to a better cause. Truly, water is a great gift. But I don't need it, people around the world do.

Please do not consider this a judgement on those who choose to celebrate their birthdays in other ways. It's just that I have chosen this way for my 21st, because I am in much need to die to myself.

Here are some statistics:
-1 billion people on this planet don't have access to safe, clean drinking water. That is 1 in 8 of us

-Just $20 can give one person clean water for 20 years.

-An average water project costs $5,000 and can serve 250 people with clean, safe water.

I am asking you guys to partner with me to raise money for Charity:Water. My goal is to raise $2500 or half a water project. It's a lot but I trust that God will provide.

Please donate. And thanks for reading this.