Grand Canyon
Sometimes you just have to sit back and enjoy the beauty of God's creation. Did he really create this just for our pleasure? Too bad he didn't put it closer to the city. Had to go to AZ to gaze on this spectacle. Well worth it.
This post reminds me of many of Matt Messner's blogs. He has a nack for finding some of the best views and posting pics.
I had never been to AZ before and I had an awesome time, mosty because I loved hanging out with friends I don't see very often. But I did realize that Seattle has become home for me. As much as I love WI where I grew up and have so many great memories. And as much as I love to see the world. I love to come home to Seattle. And it's nice to know that.
Disguises
I went on vacation this last week and it was great. Kite and I met in Phoenix and then went up to Flagstaff to surprise Dipes for his birthday. He didn't know we were coming, but we still thought that disguises would add to the element of surprise. Yup, got him good. He was teaching at IV that night. At the end a student invited us up to tell a couple embarrassing stories about Dipes and sing him happy birthday. That's the short version of the story.
Other highlights include a night tour of the dirt trails of Flagstaff after 8 inches of snow just fell. Thanks to Dipes' friend Mike for the awesome time in his 4x4. A few times I really was afraid for my life. The Grand Canyon was more beautiful than I had imagined, especially after the snow. Very cold though. It was fun to hang out with Dipes' family for the couple days. And it was so much fun playing Big Bumpin, one of those Burger King games, with them. 100% fun.
Going to Phoenix for a couple days was cool too. It's a fun town. The ASU campus is huge. Got to see Erin Hargis at her school, Grand Canyon University and had some amazing pizza with her.
It was an awesome and well needed vacation for me. I realized that I haven't taken time off since last July, except to do other work. The three of us noted that none of us had laughed as much as we did last weekend for months. I think that's a bad thing. I need to take more time to enjoy life. A big part of living life to the fullest is enjoying family, friends and God's creation. Take time to live.
Dipes's Birthday
Today is Dipes's birthday. Happy 29 to you Dipes. Surprise! Kite and I are staying at your house for a few days. Hope you don't mind.
Dipes's Blog
1. Dipes's is the appropriate punctuation so don't knock it.
2. The thing I like about his
blog is that you don't even have to read it. You can just look at the pictures and pretty much know everything he's writing about. I need to learn to use more pictures.
Church R Us
Pastor Jim's current series at Eastside is titled "Church R Us." In his
blog he writes, "I don't think of the church primarily as a group but as individuals. How do you feel about this paradigm of 'church'? If the church is people and not groups, places, things or programs...what are the implications to each one of us personally?" My first thought is that I don't think of church as individuals. I think of it as community. Kind of relates to my blog about
my not personal relationship with Christ. Again that ever so familiar verse comes to mind in which God sent His son to save the world, not the individual. He saves us induvidually so I don't know if I'm just talking about semantics or if there is a different practicality that comes from community vs individual thinking. The church of Acts sure is community minded yet the community didn't seem to overlook any 'one' in need.
I would ask, "If the church is
community and not groups, places, things or programs...what are the implications?" In my thinking I believe that the church is most expressive, loving, Christ-like, and effective when living in community. Individuals were added to their numbers daily but their strenth was in their community with each other and with God.
I know it's possible that I only actually have a few ideas (that I got from other people) and community is one and so every topic relates back to it. And so I write about it again and again. But I believe Church R Us is more appropriate that Church R Me. I'm only a part of the body of Christ, and a small part at that. I am in awe when I see glimpses of what God does when the whole body moves.
Practically, I believe this community lived out breaks down walls of ethnicity, style, economic status, age, denomination, maturity, and culture. This community reaches out in love to the unloved and even the unloving. This community is more concerned about others than it is for itself. This community is loving, accepting and forgiving. The personal implication is the fact that this community is comprised of and subject to every individual decision and action.
Those are some initial thoughts on the paradigm of church Pastor Jim is teaching about. I really like this series so I'll probably have some more to write about he continues.
Happy Birthday Dawn!!
Happy birthday to my favorite wife, Dawn!!!! 26. Dawn, you're my favorite. Have a blessed year. That sounded really not me. Dawn, have a nice life...that's more like it. I love you!!
Maggiano's with Sean and April
Maggiano's with Sean and April tonight was great. Oh man that food is good, and you get so much of it. But our conversation was even better. Here's a snapshot of our dinner thoughts.
Every year the Christmas Eve services at EFC culminate in the candle lighting ceremony. Everyone stands with their lit candles and it looks awesome in the room. Then the tradition is to extinguish your candle when they call off the number of years that you have been following Jesus. 10 years and under please extinguish your candle and have a seat. 20 years and under...that's when I sat down. 30 years and under...that's when Dawn sat down, which is the point of this blog. Dawn says that she can't remember a day without knowing Jesus so she counts from her first memory. She grew up in a Christian family and without a doubt had heard about Jesus since she was born. I also grew up in the same circumstances, but I first of all don't count time as knowing Jesus when I was too young to make any decisions (especially the most important on of my life) and second, I knew Jesus, but did not follow Him. I made a lasting decision to follow Jesus when I was 15. That's when I first had a desire to know Him and live for Him. I don't count the 15 years of my life that I knew about Jesus, went to church, and even lived by Christian ethics, but I do count the time since I began to get into His word and find out who He is for myself.
So the question is: what would you count and why? If you're a Christian, for how long has it been? Do you remember a moment or period of time or is it something that's just always been a part of you?
My first thought is that this question cannot even be answered by us. Who gives salvation? It's more that a decision we make, it's the grace of God for those who believe. What does it mean to believe? We could talk about faith and works for days, but I'll leave it right here for now. Got me thinking about it again.
Side note: it's awesome to see people who have been following Jesus for over 80 years. Inspiring.
Nathan Roberts
This one goes out to Nathan Roberts. Bass playing and tuba stylings. Reads my blog but never comments. Manila was great with Nathan. His heart changed when he was there. Before the trip he was all, "I'm going to Manila, but there's no way I'm going again next year...I'm going to Australia." But at the end of the trip he said he may want to return to Manila rather than Australia. Who can blame him after meeting all the amazing people there? And is there a great cause to give a week of your life too? So Nathan, are you going to come to Manila with me again this year? (Comment required.)
Kellie Olson & Thom Collins
I had a great time last week recording a few of Kellie Olson's songs with her. She's a great song writer and has a cool voice with great style. It inspires me to see young talents like Kellie using their gifts to glorify God. Recording isn't easy, but Kellie did a great job and I'm excited to finish the songs.
Thom Collins also did a great job producing. He's been in the military and been a police officer, but is now following his dreams in a music career. He has an awesome heart for the Lord and a great ear. He's showing me how crucial mic placement is.
Wait til you hear Kellie's songs and Thom's production. I think everyone will really like it.
Marry New Year!!
Happy New Year to everyone!
God bless!
