New Zealand, Here I Come...

Well, tomorrow is the big day - I fly to New Zealand to check out if this is where God will take us next. Yet somehow I am not excited at all, actually am dreading it! Maybe I am too traveled out, considering we drove close to 7500 miles in the last 6-7 weeks. Or maybe it's because I am nervous about stepping out of the boat once again. Or maybe it's because it's not of God? Or maybe I simply lack faith?

Whatever the case, I am dreading it. Weird. Really weird. I normally am challenged by new experiences, especially traveling to new lands. It doesn't faze me. But this time, it's like - blah. Oh well, I gotta go now. ;-)

Please pray for me/us. Pray for concrete confirmation, for the leading of the Spirit. Pray also for Becks as she is alone with all 4 kids. And they just started school, homeschooling, sports, etc. this past week. Thanks

New Zealand, Here I Come...

Well, tomorrow is the big day - I fly to New Zealand to check out if this is where God will take us next. Yet somehow I am not excited at all, actually am dreading it! Maybe I am too traveled out, considering we drove close to 7500 miles in the last 6-7 weeks. Or maybe it's because I am nervous about stepping out of the boat once again. Or maybe it's because it's not of God? Or maybe I simply lack faith?

Whatever the case, I am dreading it. Weird. Really weird. I normally am challenged by new experiences, especially traveling to new lands. It doesn't faze me. But this time, it's like - blah. Oh well, I gotta go now. ;-)

Please pray for me/us. Pray for concrete confirmation, for the leading of the Spirit. Pray also for Becks as she is alone with all 4 kids. And they just started school, homeschooling, sports, etc. this past week. Thanks

Girls Found!

Well, the missing girls have been found! I have no details other than that they are found. The prelimenary report seems to be that they 'had ran away'. They were gone for almost a week. Continue to pray for them and their family and friends as they deal with this situation. And thanks for praying!

Girls Found!

Well, the missing girls have been found! I have no details other than that they are found. The prelimenary report seems to be that they 'had ran away'. They were gone for almost a week. Continue to pray for them and their family and friends as they deal with this situation. And thanks for praying!

Missing Girls

Hi all, please pray for these girls, their families and friends. They have been missing since Friday, Aug 21. One of the girls (or maybe both, I am not so sure) goes / went to the Calvary Murrieta Christian school. It is hard to believe that this can happen in a place such as Murrieta/Temecula. But I guess nowhere is really safe anymore.

If you see anything, hear anything, know anything, please contact the Riverside County Sheriff's Dept. The contact number is on the flyer - click the foto to enlarge it. And please pray and post this to your fb, blog, website, etc. Time is of the utmost essence in such cases.

Missing Girls

Hi all, please pray for these girls, their families and friends. They have been missing since Friday, Aug 21. One of the girls (or maybe both, I am not so sure) goes / went to the Calvary Murrieta Christian school. It is hard to believe that this can happen in a place such as Murrieta/Temecula. But I guess nowhere is really safe anymore.

If you see anything, hear anything, know anything, please contact the Riverside County Sheriff's Dept. The contact number is on the flyer - click the foto to enlarge it. And please pray and post this to your fb, blog, website, etc. Time is of the utmost essence in such cases.

No Criminal Record

Well, the long wait is over. The results from the FBI background check came in the mail while we were on our road-trip. And the outcome? NO CRIMINAL RECORD. Now that the anxiety and apprehension is over, it 's kind of anti-climatic. I was kinda hoping to have at least SOMETHING on my rap sheet to post about. But boring as I am, I have no criminal record. Well, let me put it this way - I have no criminal record that the FBI knows about. Now, it doesn't mean that I DIDN'T participate in any criminal activity - it just means I wasn't caught! And it doesn't mean I am not a horrible sinner! Just one saved by grace. ;-)

No Criminal Record

Well, the long wait is over. The results from the FBI background check came in the mail while we were on our road-trip. And the outcome? NO CRIMINAL RECORD. Now that the anxiety and apprehension is over, it 's kind of anti-climatic. I was kinda hoping to have at least SOMETHING on my rap sheet to post about. But boring as I am, I have no criminal record. Well, let me put it this way - I have no criminal record that the FBI knows about. Now, it doesn't mean that I DIDN'T participate in any criminal activity - it just means I wasn't caught! And it doesn't mean I am not a horrible sinner! Just one saved by grace. ;-)

Happy Birthday Jesaiah!

Wow, we can't believe Jesaiah is 9 yrs old! Happy birthday young man! Or young whipper/snapper - whatever fits better. Here's a walk down memory lane...









I hate cameras!















Coffee. I need cooffeeee

















Like my new hairdo?
















Kindergarten
















Almost 9!

Happy Birthday Jesaiah!

Wow, we can't believe Jesaiah is 9 yrs old! Happy birthday young man! Or young whipper/snapper - whatever fits better. Here's a walk down memory lane...









I hate cameras!















Coffee. I need cooffeeee

















Like my new hairdo?
















Kindergarten
















Almost 9!

The Mother of All Road-trips!

Hey sorry we haven't posted much in the last few weeks. We have been on a couple of major road-trips. First, we drove to northern Cali to go camping with friends. One day after that, we piled the kids in the van and drove to Oklahoma to visit Becks' family. That was already almost 4,000 miles (6400 km) for both trips. Then two weeks after the Oklahoma trip, we climbed into the car again and are doing another 3,500 mile (5600 km) round-trip excursion! I think the kids are really tired of sitting in the car - I know I am! Anyways, we'll get more posts and fotos about the trips up when we get back. We're still on the last road-trip, but are on our last leg of it.

The Mother of All Road-trips!

Hey sorry we haven't posted much in the last few weeks. We have been on a couple of major road-trips. First, we drove to northern Cali to go camping with friends. One day after that, we piled the kids in the van and drove to Oklahoma to visit Becks' family. That was already almost 4,000 miles (6400 km) for both trips. Then two weeks after the Oklahoma trip, we climbed into the car again and are doing another 3,500 mile (5600 km) round-trip excursion! I think the kids are really tired of sitting in the car - I know I am! Anyways, we'll get more posts and fotos about the trips up when we get back. We're still on the last road-trip, but are on our last leg of it.

FBI Background Check!?!

As part of our visa application for New Zealand, we have to have a police background check done for both me and Becks. Never having had this done before, nor ever having the need for it, I had no idea what that meant. I researched it, and found out that it is actually done through the FBI - yes, that's right, we're talking about the Federal Bureau of Investigation! When I think of the FBI, I think of crime-fighting agents who go after mobsters, gangsters; I think of the Witness Protection Program. I think of 'America's Most Wanted' and of weird creepy aliens (i.e. X-Files). The word 'missionary' doesn't quite come to mind when I think of the criminals that the FBI goes after!

So to have them do a background check on me was kinda unnerving. I spent a whole night thinking - ok, what have I done in my past? Was there anything that I did before I became a Christian that might show up on a background check? Have to admit, I didn't get much sleep that night! Not that I could remember anything, but just the fact that they're checking my background!

Anyways, we had to go to the local police station (a first for us - never been inside a police station) and get our fingerprints taken (also, a first). I have to admit I was a bit nervous - I kept thinking the whole time that I would look up on their bulletin board and see my mugshot and the words 'WANTED' stamped in red across my forehead. Alas, that wasn't the case, thank God!

So now the fingerprints are taken, have been sent to the FBI and now we wait. Oh how I hate waiting, especially for something like this....

PS - all info from our fingerprint foto above has been removed, and the prints themselves have been blurred. To protect the identity of the innocent. ;-)

FBI Background Check!?!

As part of our visa application for New Zealand, we have to have a police background check done for both me and Becks. Never having had this done before, nor ever having the need for it, I had no idea what that meant. I researched it, and found out that it is actually done through the FBI - yes, that's right, we're talking about the Federal Bureau of Investigation! When I think of the FBI, I think of crime-fighting agents who go after mobsters, gangsters; I think of the Witness Protection Program. I think of 'America's Most Wanted' and of weird creepy aliens (i.e. X-Files). The word 'missionary' doesn't quite come to mind when I think of the criminals that the FBI goes after!

So to have them do a background check on me was kinda unnerving. I spent a whole night thinking - ok, what have I done in my past? Was there anything that I did before I became a Christian that might show up on a background check? Have to admit, I didn't get much sleep that night! Not that I could remember anything, but just the fact that they're checking my background!

Anyways, we had to go to the local police station (a first for us - never been inside a police station) and get our fingerprints taken (also, a first). I have to admit I was a bit nervous - I kept thinking the whole time that I would look up on their bulletin board and see my mugshot and the words 'WANTED' stamped in red across my forehead. Alas, that wasn't the case, thank God!

So now the fingerprints are taken, have been sent to the FBI and now we wait. Oh how I hate waiting, especially for something like this....

PS - all info from our fingerprint foto above has been removed, and the prints themselves have been blurred. To protect the identity of the innocent. ;-)

Find Your Purpose in Life in About 20 Minutes?!?!?

That title caught my eye today as I opened my browser to look up a few things online. It got me thinking (and yes, it did hurt, the thinking part I mean) about this topic again, especially since this is exactly what God was revealing to me over the last 2-3 months. Now you have to remember, that article above is from a worldly perspective, so I can't make any claims for it. If you want to read the whole article, follow this link. Basically the author purports that you can discover your life purpose by taking a sheet of paper, clearing your mind, writing down some short phrases that pop into your mind. Do this until a phrase makes you cry - this will be your purpose in life! Of course this seems very simplistic and idealistic and just downright hinky to me (and yes, 'hinky' is a word - look it up)! I am not saying it can't work, I just have my doubts as to its validity.

In any case, it got me to thinking about what my purpose in life is, or my calling as we believers will often say. What is my calling? What's yours? Do you know? Do you even WANT to know? Do you even care?!

For me it has been a 12-year process of God showing me step by step and piece by piece - much longer than 20 minutes! Of course I am not saying that it will take you 12 years to find out, but I think it will be a bit longer than 20 minutes. ;-)

Anyways, the two verses that made my calling and gifting clear to me are 1 Cor 3.5-8 and Titus 1.5. In that passage in 1 Cor 3, Paul writes to the Corinthians - 'I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.' Then in Titus, he writes to him - 'For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you'. And that is the main focus for me/us in our ministry - not to plant churches or pioneer ministries like Paul. But to come in after someone like Paul and to water and set in order the things that are lacking, like Apollos or Timothy or Titus.

Now I have to admit, it was hard at first to accept. I wanted to be the Paul, the pioneer, the church-planter. Or at least try that out. But the more I prayed about it, the more it was obvious that it was mostly my flesh - I wanted the recognition, the fame. I wanted my name to be lifted up on high and admired. Being an Apollos or Titus or Timothy, your name is often just listed along with others. And that convicted me and humbled me - I wanted my name to be more recognized than the Lord's?!?! Wow, such fleshly pride! Who am I anyways, but an empty vessel for Him to use!

So now I am content and even excited to get a clear answer as to my/our calling in ministry and in life. And as I look back at the last 13 years of ministry, that is exactly how God has used and is using us. First in Germany, taking over as pastor of CC Freiburg, then while in SoCal, taking over as pastor in the Spanish Ministry here at CC Murrieta. And now, as we are taking steps to move to New Zealand and to take over a Calvary that was planted 5 years ago. I'll share more about New Zealand in the next post, but let me end with the rest of the passage from 1 Cor 3...

So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor (v7-8, my emphasis).

to be continued...

Find Your Purpose in Life in About 20 Minutes?!?!?

That title caught my eye today as I opened my browser to look up a few things online. It got me thinking (and yes, it did hurt, the thinking part I mean) about this topic again, especially since this is exactly what God was revealing to me over the last 2-3 months. Now you have to remember, that article above is from a worldly perspective, so I can't make any claims for it. If you want to read the whole article, follow this link. Basically the author purports that you can discover your life purpose by taking a sheet of paper, clearing your mind, writing down some short phrases that pop into your mind. Do this until a phrase makes you cry - this will be your purpose in life! Of course this seems very simplistic and idealistic and just downright hinky to me (and yes, 'hinky' is a word - look it up)! I am not saying it can't work, I just have my doubts as to its validity.

In any case, it got me to thinking about what my purpose in life is, or my calling as we believers will often say. What is my calling? What's yours? Do you know? Do you even WANT to know? Do you even care?!

For me it has been a 12-year process of God showing me step by step and piece by piece - much longer than 20 minutes! Of course I am not saying that it will take you 12 years to find out, but I think it will be a bit longer than 20 minutes. ;-)

Anyways, the two verses that made my calling and gifting clear to me are 1 Cor 3.5-8 and Titus 1.5. In that passage in 1 Cor 3, Paul writes to the Corinthians - 'I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.' Then in Titus, he writes to him - 'For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you'. And that is the main focus for me/us in our ministry - not to plant churches or pioneer ministries like Paul. But to come in after someone like Paul and to water and set in order the things that are lacking, like Apollos or Timothy or Titus.

Now I have to admit, it was hard at first to accept. I wanted to be the Paul, the pioneer, the church-planter. Or at least try that out. But the more I prayed about it, the more it was obvious that it was mostly my flesh - I wanted the recognition, the fame. I wanted my name to be lifted up on high and admired. Being an Apollos or Titus or Timothy, your name is often just listed along with others. And that convicted me and humbled me - I wanted my name to be more recognized than the Lord's?!?! Wow, such fleshly pride! Who am I anyways, but an empty vessel for Him to use!

So now I am content and even excited to get a clear answer as to my/our calling in ministry and in life. And as I look back at the last 13 years of ministry, that is exactly how God has used and is using us. First in Germany, taking over as pastor of CC Freiburg, then while in SoCal, taking over as pastor in the Spanish Ministry here at CC Murrieta. And now, as we are taking steps to move to New Zealand and to take over a Calvary that was planted 5 years ago. I'll share more about New Zealand in the next post, but let me end with the rest of the passage from 1 Cor 3...

So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor (v7-8, my emphasis).

to be continued...

Rolling Trusses and Rolling Thunder

While we were visiting Becks' family in Oklahoma, I got the chance to help her dad do a room addition to their house. It was a pretty good size room - almost 500 sq. ft. It was fun - this was the first time I did trusses so it was good to learn from a couple experienced guys how to stand/roll trusses.

And all this in some pretty intense weather - there were days when it was about 103 F, in the shade. Add the humidty and the heat index went up to 110 F. On top of that, working on the roof, in direct sunlight, with the sheet metal roof reflecting everything back in your face, it was probably close to 115-120 F! I could only work until about 11.00-12.00 before it got way to hot and humid. And of course, it being thundersttorm season in Oklahoma, we had to come inside whenever it stormed. Which then made it even more humid afterwards!

Anyways, it was fun, and challenging, especially crawling around on the trusses and slats 18 ft up above the ground (almost 2 stories high!). Doesn't sound very high until you're up there looking down! Here are a few pics...

Rolling Trusses and Rolling Thunder

While we were visiting Becks' family in Oklahoma, I got the chance to help her dad do a room addition to their house. It was a pretty good size room - almost 500 sq. ft. It was fun - this was the first time I did trusses so it was good to learn from a couple experienced guys how to stand/roll trusses.

And all this in some pretty intense weather - there were days when it was about 103 F, in the shade. Add the humidty and the heat index went up to 110 F. On top of that, working on the roof, in direct sunlight, with the sheet metal roof reflecting everything back in your face, it was probably close to 115-120 F! I could only work until about 11.00-12.00 before it got way to hot and humid. And of course, it being thundersttorm season in Oklahoma, we had to come inside whenever it stormed. Which then made it even more humid afterwards!

Anyways, it was fun, and challenging, especially crawling around on the trusses and slats 18 ft up above the ground (almost 2 stories high!). Doesn't sound very high until you're up there looking down! Here are a few pics...

Grand Canyon

On our way back from Oklahoma, we stopped by the Grand Canyon, saw the sights and had lunch there. It was the first time for the kids to see this awesome wonder. They were all oohhing and aahhhing over the whole panorama. It truly is amazing to think that all God has to do is speak and things, anything, even the Grand Canyon can come into being. Imagine the power of God!

Anyways, here are a few fotos - maybe next time we can stay longer and visit some of the other sights at the Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon

On our way back from Oklahoma, we stopped by the Grand Canyon, saw the sights and had lunch there. It was the first time for the kids to see this awesome wonder. They were all oohhing and aahhhing over the whole panorama. It truly is amazing to think that all God has to do is speak and things, anything, even the Grand Canyon can come into being. Imagine the power of God!

Anyways, here are a few fotos - maybe next time we can stay longer and visit some of the other sights at the Grand Canyon.

Fishing near Mammoth

Here are a few pics from our fishing trip up near Mammoth. We spent 4 days with Jesaiah's godparents (the Nielsens) up near Mammoth Lakes, camping and fishing. We all had a great time, even when we didn't catch so many fish! But there was enough for one night of grilled trout! I don't normally like fish, but that wasn't so bad. I could probably eat trout again...when there isn't anything else to eat. ;-)

Camping with the Spanish Fellowship

As promised, here are the pics from the camp-out we did with the Spanish Ministry back in the third week of June. We had so much fun - climbing, eating, running, eating, playing games, eating, fellowshipping, eating, singing, eating, studying the Word, eating, laughing and oh, did I mention, eating lots and lots of Mexican food!? In fact, the owner of the ranch where we camped slaughtered one of his sheep (or was it goats?) for us and BBQ'ed it up really nice. Best meat I ever had! Ummmmm! We truly had a blast with the fellowship and just wanted to share a few of the memories.

Fishing near Mammoth

Here are a few pics from our fishing trip up near Mammoth. We spent 4 days with Jesaiah's godparents (the Nielsens) up near Mammoth Lakes, camping and fishing. We all had a great time, even when we didn't catch so many fish! But there was enough for one night of grilled trout! I don't normally like fish, but that wasn't so bad. I could probably eat trout again...when there isn't anything else to eat. ;-)

Camping with the Spanish Fellowship

As promised, here are the pics from the camp-out we did with the Spanish Ministry back in the third week of June. We had so much fun - climbing, eating, running, eating, playing games, eating, fellowshipping, eating, singing, eating, studying the Word, eating, laughing and oh, did I mention, eating lots and lots of Mexican food!? In fact, the owner of the ranch where we camped slaughtered one of his sheep (or was it goats?) for us and BBQ'ed it up really nice. Best meat I ever had! Ummmmm! We truly had a blast with the fellowship and just wanted to share a few of the memories.

Kiwi...But Not the Fruit

Just a quick update on our next mission, just in case you are wondering about any new news. Well, nothing concrete, but there is currently an open door in New Zealand. There is a Calvary Chapel there that was started about 5 years ago and now the pastor and his wife feel led by the Lord to hand the church over and move on. But at the moment, it doesn't seem like there is anyone from within that church who is ready to lead it.

I met with the pastor when he was here in Socal a few weeks ago and it seems like this could be an open door for us. I don't have all the details as of yet, but we will keep you updated. We are trying to set up a short visit to New Zealand in Sept to visit the church and see how the Lord will lead. So be praying for us. Pray that if this is from the Lord, then the door will remain open. Pray for provision for the trip to New Zealand. Pray for confirmation. We trust that God will bring everything together in His time and way. Thanks!

Kiwi...But Not the Fruit

Just a quick update on our next mission, just in case you are wondering about any new news. Well, nothing concrete, but there is currently an open door in New Zealand. There is a Calvary Chapel there that was started about 5 years ago and now the pastor and his wife feel led by the Lord to hand the church over and move on. But at the moment, it doesn't seem like there is anyone from within that church who is ready to lead it.

I met with the pastor when he was here in Socal a few weeks ago and it seems like this could be an open door for us. I don't have all the details as of yet, but we will keep you updated. We are trying to set up a short visit to New Zealand in Sept to visit the church and see how the Lord will lead. So be praying for us. Pray that if this is from the Lord, then the door will remain open. Pray for provision for the trip to New Zealand. Pray for confirmation. We trust that God will bring everything together in His time and way. Thanks!

Budding Gymnast / Dancer

Our youngest, Dariah has taken to dancing and tumbling and just generally being her normal hammy self. Here she is doing one of her 'dances' for us. Sit back and watch her dance up a storm. Oh, and don't miss the 'deleted scenes' after the closing credits. ;-) Her 'Hamminess' is at it again...

Budding Gymnast / Dancer

Our youngest, Dariah has taken to dancing and tumbling and just generally being her normal hammy self. Here she is doing one of her 'dances' for us. Sit back and watch her dance up a storm. Oh, and don't miss the 'deleted scenes' after the closing credits. ;-) Her 'Hamminess' is at it again...

Liz the Lizard

This past weekend, the kids found a lizard crawling/sitting on the side of the house. The boys were too scared to catch it, so Taliah grabbed it. She was soooo excited that she actually caught it and that it wasn't as gross and 'slimy' and icky as it seemed (I don't know if I would have grabbed it like that ;-), hehe). In any case, Becks and Taliah went out and got a terrarium and Taliah got to name the lizard. She calls it Liz (hopefully it's not a 'he' and won't get offended). Well, we knew Taliah is the tomboy of the family - she loves climbing trees, catching bugs and now lizards. She is usually the first one to try new things - a little adventuress! In fact she takes after her godmother - Auntie Lia!

Anyways, the kids have been catching ants, earwigs, flies and roly-poly's (pill bugs) to feed the lizard. And today we went to the pet store and got some meal worms and crickets as a special treat for little ole Liz.







Snagged! Aint't he cuddly?!?!
NOT!















Sooo excited!
















Home Sweet Home












Liz the (hopefully female) Lizard

Liz the Lizard

This past weekend, the kids found a lizard crawling/sitting on the side of the house. The boys were too scared to catch it, so Taliah grabbed it. She was soooo excited that she actually caught it and that it wasn't as gross and 'slimy' and icky as it seemed (I don't know if I would have grabbed it like that ;-), hehe). In any case, Becks and Taliah went out and got a terrarium and Taliah got to name the lizard. She calls it Liz (hopefully it's not a 'he' and won't get offended). Well, we knew Taliah is the tomboy of the family - she loves climbing trees, catching bugs and now lizards. She is usually the first one to try new things - a little adventuress! In fact she takes after her godmother - Auntie Lia!

Anyways, the kids have been catching ants, earwigs, flies and roly-poly's (pill bugs) to feed the lizard. And today we went to the pet store and got some meal worms and crickets as a special treat for little ole Liz.







Snagged! Aint't he cuddly?!?!
NOT!















Sooo excited!
















Home Sweet Home












Liz the (hopefully female) Lizard

Science Phun

This past week, Jesaiah and Taliah had to present their science research projects at the school science fair. Jesaiah did his research on 'friction' - what it is, how it works, what has more friction, etc. And Taliah did hers on the 'surface tension of water' - again, what it is, how it works and how you can see it. I got the opportunity to help them with this - science is right up my alley! I have to admit it was really fun - i enjoy science a lot. Anyways, they did really well on their research and the teachers (and other students) were impressed with their work. And it was fun to see the projects from the other kids at the school - there were some truly impressive ones!

So, here are a few fotos of Jesaiah and Taliah doing their research...





Talk about 'sticky' rice!



















What has more friction - smooth plastic, rubber or sandpaper??












Fill 'er up!













My cup runneth over!












Cutting water?!















Finished products...













and Taliah's











Random...'hey take my picture too Daddy!'
Zachie and his 'sleeping-bag'.













'Me too' says Dariah, 'look what I can do!'

Science Phun

This past week, Jesaiah and Taliah had to present their science research projects at the school science fair. Jesaiah did his research on 'friction' - what it is, how it works, what has more friction, etc. And Taliah did hers on the 'surface tension of water' - again, what it is, how it works and how you can see it. I got the opportunity to help them with this - science is right up my alley! I have to admit it was really fun - i enjoy science a lot. Anyways, they did really well on their research and the teachers (and other students) were impressed with their work. And it was fun to see the projects from the other kids at the school - there were some truly impressive ones!

So, here are a few fotos of Jesaiah and Taliah doing their research...





Talk about 'sticky' rice!



















What has more friction - smooth plastic, rubber or sandpaper??












Fill 'er up!













My cup runneth over!












Cutting water?!















Finished products...













and Taliah's











Random...'hey take my picture too Daddy!'
Zachie and his 'sleeping-bag'.













'Me too' says Dariah, 'look what I can do!'

Father and Son Getaway

This last weekend, Jesaiah and I got away for a quick overnight camping trip to Joshua Tree National Park in the desert beyond Palm Springs. It was a great trip, just Jesaiah and I - we were able to do many fun things. On the first day, we saw 2 rattlesnakes, not more than 3 feet from our path. On the second day, we saw another snake as we were in a cactus garden, again not more than a couple feet from us. It's spring, so the reptiles are out in force to mate and enjoy the warmth.

We were also able to do some rock-climbing - Jesaiah surprised himself by climbing a rock that was over 2 stories high (20 feet or so up). He didn't think he could do it, but with a little exhortation and guidance, he easily climbed to the top and even more impressive, climbed back down (much harder!). We also did a lot of bouldering on some smaller and shorter boulders - lots of fun! We both loved that!

We also visited a huge Cholla (not chollo) cactus garden, a rock that has been wind-blasted into the shape of a skull, drove to the highest viewpoint in the park to look down into the Coachella Valley, hiked 4 miles round-trip to an original goldmine - all this and much more crammed into a day and a half!

But my favorite part and the main reason for this trip was to give Jesaiah undivided time for conversations. We spent about 4 hours sitting around the fire-pit, splitting wood for kindling, making the fire and roasting hot dogs, corn and marshmallows - all the while talking about anything and everything - both fun stuff and more 'meaning of life' topics.. Jesaiah learned a very practical spiritual lesson from the embers and coals. He saw that when he takes a red-hot ember out of the bed of coals, it soon dies down and turns black and cold. He learned that all believers 'burn' hotter when they stay together, but when they try to go it alone, they soon burn out and turn cold. He applied that to 2 of his friends from school who are Christians, but don't go to church and don't 'act like Christians' (his words). And we prayed for them on the spot!

All in all, it was a great trip!

Father and Son Getaway

This last weekend, Jesaiah and I got away for a quick overnight camping trip to Joshua Tree National Park in the desert beyond Palm Springs. It was a great trip, just Jesaiah and I - we were able to do many fun things. On the first day, we saw 2 rattlesnakes, not more than 3 feet from our path. On the second day, we saw another snake as we were in a cactus garden, again not more than a couple feet from us. It's spring, so the reptiles are out in force to mate and enjoy the warmth.

We were also able to do some rock-climbing - Jesaiah surprised himself by climbing a rock that was over 2 stories high (20 feet or so up). He didn't think he could do it, but with a little exhortation and guidance, he easily climbed to the top and even more impressive, climbed back down (much harder!). We also did a lot of bouldering on some smaller and shorter boulders - lots of fun! We both loved that!

We also visited a huge Cholla (not chollo) cactus garden, a rock that has been wind-blasted into the shape of a skull, drove to the highest viewpoint in the park to look down into the Coachella Valley, hiked 4 miles round-trip to an original goldmine - all this and much more crammed into a day and a half!

But my favorite part and the main reason for this trip was to give Jesaiah undivided time for conversations. We spent about 4 hours sitting around the fire-pit, splitting wood for kindling, making the fire and roasting hot dogs, corn and marshmallows - all the while talking about anything and everything - both fun stuff and more 'meaning of life' topics.. Jesaiah learned a very practical spiritual lesson from the embers and coals. He saw that when he takes a red-hot ember out of the bed of coals, it soon dies down and turns black and cold. He learned that all believers 'burn' hotter when they stay together, but when they try to go it alone, they soon burn out and turn cold. He applied that to 2 of his friends from school who are Christians, but don't go to church and don't 'act like Christians' (his words). And we prayed for them on the spot!

All in all, it was a great trip!