Grateful Beyond Words

Yesterday was my wife's and my 23rd wedding anniversary.
I cannot even begin to express the gratefulness in my heart for the blessing of having such a wonderful helpmeet - one whom God has made to be one with me - and my very best friend.

My wife and I went out for a nice dinner Saturday evening to celebrate and I was able to provide a surprise gift for her. That was fun!

All in all, yesterday was not a really eventful day, my wife spent the morning home from church resting, trying to fight a sinus infection which she is going to the doctor about today.
In the afternoon we had some time with my parents and sisters (the youngest of which is up from Phoenix with her kids for a few days), and it was good overall. Yet, it is always harder when my wife is not feeling well. She left early to head home and rest some more because the "gunk" has wiped her out. I struggle when she gets sick, because it seems there is so little I can do to help her, except try to be understanding.

I had a wonderful talk with my son last evening. He hasn't been home since last Christmas and we are all looking forward to being together again. An additionally exciting part is that he is bringing an amazing (his favorite adjective for her) young lady along for us to meet and begin to get to know. We are all looking forward to this event and are praying that she is able to be at peace and comfortable in our home. We know it can be a stressful event to meet your boyfriend/girlfriend's parents and family, but we know God is bigger. ;)

That's all for now.

Seasons Of Change

These days we are in are seasons of change...

Today was the first day our church has started meeting in a home for our Sunday service. There are many financial reasons that sum up to insufficient funds for us to rent a building at this time; but to be clear, lack of tithing by our congregation is not one of them.
For the past two years, up through last week, we had been meeting at an elementary school and that had been okay, but it became clear that we were to move on. For nine and one-half years prior to that we rented a building from another church until that church decided they could/should get more money than we were able to pay.

Today's service was very much a blessing! We are where God wants us to be in this season. What more can we really ask for? It was an intimate time together.

Our church doesn't seem like much when compared to the many mega-churches in our city, but it is more than okay because God hasn't called us to be one of those. I believe that we get caught in the trap of the standards by which today's churches are judged against other churches and the "successful" church is the one that has grown to have thousands of people and built large edifices and have multiple services. If you don't have that and don't look like that, your church appears to be a failure. There were times that Jesus had a church of thousands. Most of the time he had a dozen or so followers. If that was good enough for Him, shouldn't that be good enough for us if that is what he has called us to? I think it is. Additionally, His Word tells us that when we judge ourselves against others we are without understanding spiritually.

On a different but kind of related note, our son left to go back to Norman, Oklahoma yesterday. He needed to be back this evening for his job as an RA. Originally he was going to leave today, but prompted by the Holy Spirit decided it would be better to drive part of the way yesterday afternoon and then complete the drive today. We had been keeping an eye on the weather in relation to his need to travel, but the forecast on showed a very slight chance of any precipitation or possible bad weather through today, but we each one had that feeling from the Spirit that he needed to leave yesterday. I'm glad we heard that prompting so clearly.
Snow started falling this morning about 6:00 a.m. and we had about 3 to 4 inches in less than two hours. Roads quickly turned to sheets of slick, icy, packed snow, and I'm sure that similar conditions existed all the way to the South where he would have had to drive today. That would have been pretty lousy conditions for him to drive in.

The time our son was home, short though it was, was very much a blessing. When he is home, the average decibel level in our home escalates unbelievably. His voice is resonant (a.k.a. loud) when he isn't being attentive to keep it down. That's okay. That's just who he is. We had some good talks and just enjoyed being together as a family again. Also, as he noted on his blog recently, he is perhaps as happy as anyone can remember seeing him in a long while. Hurray!
I am grateful beyond words for the work God has done and is doing in him. What more can a parent ask for?

Our older daughter (middle child) was home from her first semester of college as well. She had a very rough first semester, but we are able to see God's Hand at work in her life. There is much He is desiring to teach her about herself in this time. It is hard as a parent to wait and watch as this process takes place. We have this desire to want to save, or at least help, our children when they are in difficult places in their lives. Our daughter came home very down and very discouraged. She had a hard time making new friends which is odd for her. She had a hard time getting plugged in with any of the college ministries because she found there wasn't the depth there that she was expecting. She was talking about wanting to change schools, change majors, wanting to change pretty much everything. There were many difficult emotional things that occurred and our feeling is that she felt like she just wanted to run away from what this semester of school has been. Fortunately, she has calmed down and started to hear the Holy Spirit speaking His peace to her heart and spirit and soul. We're praying for this next semester to be better for her. We are also praying for her to invest in the ministry where God calls her to.
She will be home for a couple more weeks before returning to college and I'm hoping for more opportunities to talk with her during this period of time. This is her season of change...

I want to take a line and note for my kids that I am so very proud of each of them. Each one is special and each one has their special gifting and nothing can take away from who God has made them to be.

It is a season where many of us are reflecting on things of the past, things that are happening in these days and considering things that will soon come about. I could write pages of the other things that this relates to for us, but I think you get the idea.

I am so thankful that we have the One that cares about us and leads us in these changing seasons.

May God bless you!

I Wouldn't Have Missed It For the World

They got married yesterday and I wouldn't have missed it for the world... but we almost did!

I posted The Announcement back in September about a young couple's engagement and forthcoming wedding.
- God had some things for me to learn along the way... especially in regard to casting my cares and burdens upon Him. I had to learn more about letting go and trusting the Lord with the lives of those that are precious to me. -

Their wedding, you see, was in a city 130 miles to the North of where we live -- about 2-1/2 hours drive in good weather -- and yesterday was a snowy, borderline blizzard-like day here in Colorado. It took us over three hours to drive up to where the wedding was. There was blowing snow, very icy roads, and several accidents along the way up and back. We got tied up in traffic about 20 miles from our destination and moved about two miles in half an hour... needless to say, we started getting a tad nervous about making it on time. We have other friends that had planned on going, but decided not to go because of the bad weather. I can't say that I blame them since it was less than an enjoyable drive, but for us it was well worth it.

My previous post is about a group of four young men that have been together all of their lives. The groom was the second born of those young men. He and my son have been best friends pretty much all their lives. The bride was a close friend of my son's through high school and his date for the senior prom. This young couple is very special and important to us. Our son was the best man and our oldest daughter was a bridesmaid.

So this is a rambling post to say that we spent about six to seven hours driving yesterday to be able to spend about six hours celebrating (wedding and reception) with a precious young couple as they joined their lives together.

Thanks and all praise be to God Who made it possible for us to be there with them and to get us home safely.

Four Boys Became Four Young Men

Last evening four men gathered together to remember a time 11 or 12 years ago when we got together to pray over four boys. These are our boys: all within two years of age, that have grown up together from birth and have been friends all along the way.

This is not so common in these mobile days where families move from place to place and state to state for jobs and such. We've been extremely blessed that we've all been able to stay in one place and have our church family for the entirety of our children's growing up years, and so have our children.

These four boys played together, fought thousands of imaginary battles together, fought amongst themselves a time or two (more than once over a stick imagined to be a light saber), and played countless hours of XBox together. Most importantly they have prayed together and encouraged one another.

Now all four have left home and gone off to college.

Yesterday one got married.

Last evening we remembered these little boys that we prayed over. When we prayed for them, prayed that they would be Godly brothers for one another. That their friendships would endure. That they would be there to encourage one another. That as they were growing up there would always be the place to love one another, be able to bring correction to each other, that they would rally to each other and be there to help each other. God, in His amazing faithfulness, answered this prayer.

And last night at a wedding reception, we remembered.

Remembrance

The sermon our pastor brought last Sunday (11/25) was about being a remembrancer.
It was a reminder that we are to remember that which God has given us and that we have a testimony in establishing that which He has done in us and for us.

I spent a good amount of time this week thinking back over much that He has brought me (us) through in these years that I've known Him. (I use the term known very loosely, because I know that I still have much to learn to know my God.) That He knows me, I have no question. How well I know the Living God, well I must take from His word to answer that:
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIV)

I remembered back to when I was a 16 year-old in my room asking God for a sign to show me He was real. That evening He provided for me a sign that was specifically what He knew I needed. Oh how God knows us and our individual needs (I consider how Jesus appeared to Thomas). God revealed Himself to me the way I needed in that moment at that time. He had His hand on me before I came to know what a wonderful savior He is; He has lead me and guided me since.
Many more things I remembered and all those things point to His absolute faithfulness to bring me through. There are so many times that I didn't understand and I wasn't able to see how His hand was at work. He has delivered me from my ugly and utterly detestable failures; from the sin I could not deserve to be delivered from. He has healed hurts. He has spared my life, my marriage, and my family and allowed me to be called his child, a son of the living God.

As King David said:
I sought the LORD, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4
For You have delivered my soul from death,Indeed my feet from stumbling,So that I may walk before God in the light of the living. Psalm 56:13
Deliver me from the mire and do not let me sink;May I be delivered from my foes and from the deep waters. Psalm 69:14
For Your lovingkindness toward me is great,And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. Psalm 86:13
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble;He delivered them out of their distresses. Psalm 107:6
He sent His word and healed them,And delivered them from their destructions. Psalm 107:20
(All scriptures from the New American Standard Bible)

Lord, to You I give all glory, all honor, and all praise. You alone are worthy.

Almost Thanksgiving...

Four days from now we will celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday as a nation.

I pray that we as a nation will remember the true meaning and purpose for this day.

To thank God of heaven and earth for the multitude of blessings that He has poured forth upon us as individuals, as communities, states, and as a nation.

God has blessed us abundantly beyond all that we could ask or think...
Yet we, for the most part, take it for granted. We act as though we could somehow deserve the favor God has shown to us; that we, as a nation, are somehow predisposed to receive His wondrous grace and blessing.
We are not.

Without the blood shed for us by Jesus Christ, the Living One, we can never come close to God, the Father.

Forgive us our sin, oh God, as we turn and repent from our truly wicked ways. Forgive us, oh Lord, and heal our sick and broken land. Be gracious to us for Your Name's sake, Lord.
Jesus, we thank You for all that You have done and for the life You have to bestow upon us, if we will only yield to You our hearts and lives.
Father, we ask for Your abundant mercy to be with, and Your covering to be over, the men and women of the armed forces of this country who are overseas serving, that do not have the opportunity to be with their families for this Thanksgiving. Guard their lives and keep them in the safety of Your busom. Dear Lord, thwart every evil plan of the enemy that is desirous to destroy them.
I ask these things of You, oh Mighty God, in the precious name of Jesus Christ the messiah, that You would show forth Your Glory in these dark and perilous times. -- Amen

Rocky Mountain National Park

As my wife Kerry posted on her blog, we enjoyed a wonderful time in the outdoors. Here are a few of the 200+ pictures I took. I brought the resolution way down for the sake of uploading and viewing.

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In case you didn't know, you can click on the pictures for a larger view.
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The picture on the left is one that I just thought was really cool. I love streams and the depth that they reveal as it winds its way back into the woods behind.

This picture on the right is of Morraine Lake. It is a very picturesque setting. The water is only about five to six feet deep across much of it, but looking at it from different angles reveals that there are definitely some much deeper spots.
And the water is VERY COLD, it is fed by melting snow, some of which can be seen on the high peaks in the background.

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The shot below shows a small pondlike area a little below the Morraine Lake.
Trout could be seen swimming around in it.

Too bad I didn't bring a fishing pole. ;)

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Another photo of the same area from a different angle with different light.
The white in the upper right (back in the trees) is snow. The snow is melting and dripping down the rocks into the pool.
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I couldn't resist this shot on the left with the leaning tree and the reflections captured on the water. It is one of my favorites.

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The photo on the right shows the dark storm clouds that form quickly over the Colorado mountains.
Severe thunderstorms can occur quickly and the lightning at these high altitudes is extremely dangerous. Shortly after this picture was taken my wife and I found shelter in a cave to wait out the storm. It rained for about 45 minutes and we witnessed a terrific display of lightning flashing all around us.

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One of the many elk that roam the park. While they look like deer, and are related, they are much, much larger.

This big fellow on the left was nice enough to smile for the camera. At least that is the way it turned out looking like.

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Bugling Bull?
Not this time.
This big bull let out a big yawn...
All the laying around in the sun, munching on grass and letting people take pictures gets tiring.

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It is always a special treat for an amateur photographer like myself to be fortunate enough to catch moments like these.

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A Classic Shot

Overdue Update

My last post was about mountain biking and I mentioned that I would add a post after racing... and no it didn't actually take me this long to recover, things have just been busy.
The picture in the previous post was NOT me. The picture on the right IS me (and a longtime friend of ours on the right), waiting, and waiting, and waiting... for the race to begin. I was hoping to finish in about an hour and my time was 1:06:41, so I was pretty pleased. I had fun and I learned from the experience. Now I'm thinking about trying another race next month that will be longer and have more climbing and more descending.

My wonderful wife and I celebrated our 22nd anniversary last Friday and we took a little trip up to Estes Park, CO (a town NE of Boulder) and then and stayed in a nice little bed and breakfast called Mountain Shadows B&B. I got a cabin for us called 'Sweethearts Forever'. Pretty romantic. We had a wonderful couple days and spent time talking and laughing and remembering what life is like as a couple rather than as a couple parents. Thursday afternoon we shopped all the little shops in Estes Park. Friday we went for about a six mile hike to a lake in Rocky Mountain National Park (see also link2 and link3). We had a rain storm blow over so we found refuge in a cave under a big boulder with a retired couple from Durango, CO. So we just sat tight and visited with them until the storm blew past. What a kick! After we got back to the car we took a drive up to the top of the world; well at least it seems like the top of the world. The road is named Trail Ridge Road and it winds along for several miles along the tops of a couple high mountains well above timber line (no trees grow there) and the views are spectacular.
Down the west side of the park we saw large bachelor groups of bull elk. See the animals behind my wife in the picture. Too cool!
And finally, a little further along, we had the awesome treat of viewing a cow moose with her calf... from a distance of course. Thank goodness for telephoto lenses! Mama moose looks like she endured a hard winter carrying baby. God knows what she needs and we're praying she will regain her strength.

So, summertime is upon us and we are busy having fun and enjoying the creation God has blessed us with.

Peace to you all in Christ Jesus our Lord!

AMExpression Moving Up

I just went to an online friend's blog-site and found she is moving up in the world. I've changed the link on my page to her new site. AMExpression has her own domain for posting her blogs to at http://www.amexpression.com. I am blessed for her.
Check out her new site and be prepared to be blessed. Whoo-Hoo! Go Ame!

Whoosh! Two Down and One to Go

My second child graduated from high school today. The first graduated two years ago. The next one will be in three years. So we're two down with one to go.
I'm not quite sure how this day came so fast. Wasn't it just yesterday she was a little baby girl being handed to me in the hospital and me exclaiming, "What am I going to do with a girl?" I've since found out. God has very much blessed my life with all my children. My son and my two daughters.

We are very proud of our young lady, she graduated with honors in the top 5% of her class. Not to be considered a small achievement, especially since she took honors classes and advanced placement (A.P.) classes for college credit... and speaking of college credit, college is looming on the horizon not too far away.

The emotions have gone every way today. I've been misty eyed and joyous. We had a house full of friends and relatives to celebrate this wonderful life accomplishment achieved by my oldest daughter. What a day it has been!

Right now I am tired and short on words, but I just wanted to get out a quick post about the events of the day since it has been a busy and emotional week.

I'll try to post again soon when I have had a bit more rest and I have regained my ability to think a little more clearly.

Awesome Worship

Wednesday evenings, before we have prayer at our house, we have a practice time for our church's worship team (aka praise band). It's spring break time and almost everybody is out of town. Almost everybody but my wife and I and the lady who is our worship leader (some churches designate the person in this position a worship pastor). Well last night it was just the three of us. My wife joined us for our worship practice which turned into less practice and more worship which was pretty awesome. And our prayer time turned out to be just the three of us as well.
What a wonderful blessing the time was. Not that other times haven't been, but this was a really cool time or prayer and worship. We weren't constrained by the time because "everybody" was going to be showing up at 7. We were just able to flow with the leading of the Holy Spirit. Of course that is what we always want to be able to do, it's just that it works out better sometimes than others. Our God is so good!

I am always grateful to God for the the richness of the blessings that He pours out on us. My Father always knows what I need and when I need it. He pours out refreshing waters (spiritual refreshing) for us to drink of. The bible says those waters pour forth from His throne.

So I just want to take a moment and express my thanks to my God for the blessing of knowing Him. For all the things He allows us to walk through, because He uses both the good and the bad for His glory.

I praise Him because He alone is worthy of praise.

A Lesser Light by Night

I saw this picture on the NASA POD and just loved it. It is of a Massachusetts lighthouse during the lunar eclipse that recently occurred on the 3rd of March 2007.

It is impossible to ignore the handiwork of God Who created all things for His good pleasure. I remember also that He had us in mind when He created everything so that we might in some part appreciate the splendor of His majestic creation.

The Word tells us that all creation testifies of Him and points to God our Creator; that if we fail to praise Him, even the Rocks will cry out His name.

This picture shows a lighthouse, made by man to help ships navigate in the night. In contrast the reddish moon caused by the lunar eclipse, exemplifies God's unending imagination as we behold the lesser light created to govern the night. What beauty He surrounds us with and we only need to take the moments to pause, see, and appreciate all that He has done.

I stand in awe of One so Holy...

On A Lighter Note

Isn't it amazing what God has done and created?

How He put touches of beauty far out into the reaches of space when He created the world?!

It is incredible to behold the beauty God created on our planet for His good pleasure and for us to enjoy.

Then if we consider what He added to the heavens and the far reaches of space, how He sprinkled colors into the stars and galaxies and the far reaches of space that we in this age are only beginning to see, we must conclude that God is truly marvelous.

From the highest of highs to the depths of the sea.

Creation's revealing your majesty.

From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring...

Every creature unique in the song that it sings

All exclaiming

Indescribable, Uncontainable,

You place the stars in the sky and You know them by name.

You are Amazing God!

All powerful, Untamable,

awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim

You are Amazing God!

Incomparable, Unchangeable

You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same

You are Amazing God! You are Amazing God!

From the song Indescribable Written by Laura Story