Great Time

We have returned from our "escape," and what a great time it was. How important rest is!

We spent time biking many of the 40 miles of bike paths, rafting down 6 miles of the Deschutes River, swam, ate good, laughed, and played hard. I also spent some good time reading Mark Yaconelli's book, "Contemplative Youth Ministry." Good stuff.

I also was moved with awe just enjoying and appreciating the beauty of God's creation. Man...He's good!

I'm now ready for fall. Bring it on!

Escape

It's been a very full and busy summer. God has done great things. Now we are staring down at fall and it will be a full season of ministry as well. Before it begins we are making an escape.

Today we head to Sunriver for a week of relaxing in the sun, hanging with family, and lots of rest. This is our third year of going to Sunriver at the end of summer, and it has become a great tradition.

See you soon.

Most

I watched a film last night that touched me on a deep level. A film that masterfully depicts the love of a father for his son.

Most (Czech for the Bridge) beautifully portrays the love and pain of a father, and his journey of sacrifice so that many might live.



It brought to mind the words of 1 John 3:1-2,

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

See the trailer here and another one here.

Visit the official web site at MostTheMovie.com.

Through The Eyes of A Student

Here is a video of our Mexico trip produced by one of our students. Good stuff!

Myspace

I have to say, I agree...



Eleventyseven
"Myspace"

One Year Stats

As of yesterday I have been blogging for one year.

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It's been a great year. Thanks for reading.

Mexico Video

Here is the short version of our Mexico outreach video that we will be playing for the church on September 3.

Music by Frank Grubbs.

Decaf

On Wednesday night in Mexico, Veronica, Pastor Ramone's wife, made dinner for our team. 100 tamales to be exact! They were incredible.

As we sat at the table eating I couldn't help but notice the jar of instant coffee in the center of the coffee. At closer examination I noticed that it was decaf, with an even closer look I noticed the spanish word to indicate such.

Me being the self professed coffee snob that I am and purest when it comes to only drinking caffieneted coffee had to grin. Take a look....

Outreach Pictures

We took over 500 pictures on our trip to Mexico. I have narrowed them down to 116 and have uploaded them. You may view them here.

On our Mexico Outreach web site you may also read the reflections of some of our team members. Check them out here.

Again, thanks to all who invested in our outreach. God's kingdom is larger as a result.

La Casa

While in Mexico half of our team spent the week building a house for a needy family. They were a family of six. Mom, Dad, a 10 month old baby, a 4 year old boy, 7 year old girl, and a 17 year old girl, who is expecting her own child soon. They were a Oaxacan family living in a small two room house with dirt floors and no running water.

The family was a joy to be with over the week. The children especially were a lot of fun. They loved to "help" where ever and whenever, they could.

The house was a three room house, one large room and two small bedrooms. It wasn't much by our standards but it was much nicer than what they had been living in.

As we worked I was reminded of the words of Isaiah in the first chapter, in which God chides His people for their meaningless worship. They were consumed with all the rituals and traditions of worship but their hearts were far from worshipping Him. God finally says to them in Isaiah 1:15-17,

When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen.
Your hands are full of blood;
wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds
out of my sight!

Stop doing wrong,
learn to do right!
Seek justice,
encourage the oppressed.
Defend the cause of the fatherless,
plead the case of the widow.

How often we are guilty of the same. I have come to learn that the highest form of worship is not singing nice songs, or being a part of a fancy worship service, rather it is things like building a house for someone in need. It is coming along side the oppressed and being a blessing. We weren't singing much as we built the house, but it was one great time of worship.

The highlight of the whole week was presenting the family with the keys to their new house and sharing with them that it was a gift from the God that loves them deeply. What a priviledge it was to be the hand of God as He handed them such a wonderful gift, a gift that they were so thankful for. There are not many times in life as fulfilling as that!

I want to be a better worshipper. I want to be used of God more to be a blessing to others. I am thankful for all that God showed me in the short time that we were there. I was changed.

The Construction Team.

Think On This

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow mindedness. Broad, wholesome, charitable views cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth
-Mark Twain

Toll Road To Ensenada

On Tuesday night in Mexico Frank Grubbs came and spoke and sang at the outreach center we were staying at. Frank is a World Vision Artist Associate and plays and speaks all around the country advocating child sponsorship.

I have heard him many times and have always loved his "Toll Road To Ensenada" song. I asked him if he had it recorded and if so how I could get my hands on it. He told me that he never has recorded it but if I wanted a copy to bring my video camera in and tape it, so I did.

It's a great song and pretty much sums up our experience in Mexico. Enjoy!

We're Back

Our Mexico team returned Monday afternoon. Yesterday I recovered. Today I am back at it!

What a great trip it was. It will take several posts to share all that God accomplished in and through us. In this one let me just say, thank you. Thank you to all that prayed. The words of James 5:16 are so true, "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." God accomplished tremendous things and many were blessed. His Kingdom was advanced.

Thank you to those that paid. With the generous giving of many we were able to bless a very needy family with a brand new house. With your giving we were also able to come along side a struggling church and encourage and bless them with resources, man power, prayer, and the sharing of the Gospel to many children each day.

There is nothing more fulfilling that being used of God in such ways. We were blessed.