21 years ago today marked a significant day in the Belz household. God blessed Holly and me with a spunky, energetic, ambitious, fun-loving, Christ-following family member. It is interesting how three kids raised in the same home by the same parents can be remarkably different, each one with his/her unique strengths, weaknesses, dreams, skills, struggles, proclivities, personality, temperament, and God-given calling.

While America acknowledges 21 years old to be the mark of a full adult, able to legally drink and buy alcohol, gamble at casinos, buy marijuana and tobacco products, obtain a weapons permit, this is a pretty lousy list to aspire to. Rather, we have encouraged Andrew to consider this milestone toward adulthood in terms of galvanizing his commitment to the Lord, following God’s will in his career, establishing healthy habits and relationships that will guide him for years to come, and honoring the Lord in the decisions he makes. John Piper talks about Christian hedonism (finding our purpose and satisfaction in delighting in the Lord), and this resonates with our fun-loving, carefree son who also wants to honor God with his life.

Following Andrew’s time at the Cross Conference in Louisville, KY, he has stepped up to the challenge in several of these areas, and is demonstrating a disciplined focus in his real estate career pursuits, in his weight training, in his daily devotion times with the Lord, and in the company he is keeping. Instead of settling for youthful models of immaturity, Paul tells Timothy in 1 Tim. 4:12 to set an example for believers in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. Truly, Holly and I are so thankful for the man Andrew is becoming, and trust in God’s faithfulness to keep Andrew on course in whatever he pursues. We believe this world will be a better place because Andrew was in it, and he will leave his mark for God’s kingdom in unmistakable ways.