Do I Follow Him?

"It's easier to worship Jesus than to follow Jesus." - Jack Jezreel

"Follow me" - Jesus

A Catholic and an Evangelical went to a Castle...

What in the world was a Catholic doing speaking to Campus Crusade group at the Navigators headquarters? Quoting scripture?  Sharing transferable concepts? Conducting Vespers? ....  Maybe a little of all three.  

This week was our annual Rocky Mountain Leadership Conference where we gather all of the local leaders from our region.  Every other year our senior staff (those who have finished training but are not yet local leaders) overlap with us.  We usually meet in Estes Park but the Stanley was not available (I guess

 too close to Halloween) so we met at beautiful Glen Eyrie - the headquarters of Navigators in Colorado Springs. 

So we gathered amidst the big horn sheep, 

clear blue skies and incredible rock formations, in a castle built for General Palmer.  One of our traditions is to bring in an outsider to provoke our thinking of life and ministry.  this year we were blessed to hear from Jack Jezreel.

Jack, a born-again Catholic and dear brother in the Lord, spoke on the biblical basis for living out what God has called us to in terms of caring for those in need.  I first heard Jack last Spring at Externally Church Conference .  It was a revisit of the talk for me but worth it to hear from this again.  So much from this time but for me I think the biggest think that stuck out is that God desires to enlarge my heart for both him and all those around me. 

Too often my heart is small and I just love those like me.  

Mexican Stand-off

Of course this is probably not politically correct but yesterday was a Mexican stand-off as  Jack and Drew - who don't like to be touched by each other - were seen staring each other down while poking the other's shoulder.

It's also how the cold war got started...   Nitka Kruschev and Ike Eisenhower first poked each other and said "don't touch me" at Camp David in 1959. Then it escalated through future Presidents and Premiers with the Bay of Pigs, the Missiles of October, several detentes, SALT talk treaties, "evil empire speeches" and on and on.   Until finally Reagan and Gorby hugged and made up.

Which is what Jack and Drew did.

Luke Reads

The night before last Robin pulled out the book Luke choose from the school library... Kitten: Baby Animals.   And decided to see how much of it Luke could read.  He read the first page and didn't want to push it but Luke wanted to keep reading. He read the entire book needing help on just a couple of words.  

Okay maybe not earth-shattering but not bad for a first semester kindergartner.  Actually we think Luke could read before but he was always too embarrassed to do it or admit if he knew a word.   So really the biggest surprise for us is that he was willing to read aloud to us.   I tried it again last night with Little Bear but no avail.

I have to say I would have preferred Little Bear or another book to be his first public reading.  I am not a felinophile and just hearing him read it almost made my eyes water and me want to sneeze.  But we are still proud and pleased with his progress in reading, writing, drawing, etc at Ryan Elementary.

1000 Questions

The Last Day of the Great Feast

Today is the last day of Sukkot or the Feast of Booths (or Tabernacles or In-Gathering).  The festival was a time to celebrate the end of the Harvest and to recall the times God provided for them while they wandered in the wilderness and lives in tents.

On this day, the last and greatest, there is a prayer called The Hosha' Na Rabba or The Great Salvation.  Hosha' Na means "Save us Now" and that phrase is  recited 7 times.  It appears that this prayer was formed from the tradition that the Jewish people gathering in Jerusalem to celebrate the end of the harvest expected a great salvation to come at this time.  

Once when Jesus celebrated Sukkot, in the midst of this last greatest day while the people were waiting expectantly, the true Messiah cried out with a loud voice, "Hey, if anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink!  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within Him."    

That whole chapter people had been wondering who He was.  Good man?  Deceiver?  Prophet? Messiah?   Jesus removes the ambiguity for anyone... ANYONE... who would come and believe.

He is the Great Salvation!   He is our Hope!  He is our Messiah!  Jesus!  No one else.

I Could Watch this a 1000 Times

A Message from our Lawyer

The previous blog entry by our staff was removed.

Campus Crusade doesn't get involved in political campaigns

First, and most important, the Board and the leadership believe that if Campus Crusade engages in the political process it will damage its ability to effectively communicate the gospel. Our mission of connecting people to Jesus is compromised if some of the people we most want to reach won't listen because they disagree with perceived organizational political stands.

Second, the law prohibits religious charities from endorsing political candidates and strictly limits their involvement in campaigns for propositions or ballot initiatives. If the ministry violates that law it risks losing its tax exempt (501 (c)(3)) status, and its ability to receive tax deductible contributions.

What this means for our staff family of which Andy is

Campus Crusade Web sites, both ministry sites and personal staff sites that are associated with the ministry, may not be used in connection with any campaign. This includes such indirect activity as adding information about particular campaigns to a site without expressing an overt opinion. It also includes adding links to particular campaign Web sites and links to other sites that are designed to evaluate or provide information about campaigns. It also includes the use of forums, blogs, social network sites (e.g., facebook.com), and other "new media," in connection with a campaign or to discuss a campaign, where the forum, blog or site, or your participation in them, is associated in any way with Campus Crusade for Christ. "Association," for charities, includes use of company e-mail addresses on social networking sites as well as listing the name of your employer.  IRS regulations state that your employer's name may be used along with a qualifier indicating that "the opinions expressed are personal and do not express the views or positions of the employer;"

So if you took a few minutes with Andy within the past 24 hours, please disregard any remarks about how socialism is not the answer.   Now back to your regular blog reading schedule...

2nd Place

Ryan Elementary (Luke's school) got 2nd place in the "Marching Group - School" division of last Saturday's Celebrate Lafayette Parade.    

Which means Luke, Jack, Drew and I got 2nd place since we were a part of the marching Group! 

Take that Lafayette Elementary!

For Cubbie Fans

You have to click on the photo to see it in all its glory.

Headache

Me: Guys I have a headache

Drew:  I have a headache, too....  Daddy, what's a headache?

Whern the Mommy Kitty is Away

We catch a spider put him in a jar and then catch flies and watch the spider eat them.

Instead of a 1000 small clean-ups we wait for one big clean-up time the afternoon before Mommy arrives.  (At least that's the plan)

We try to avoid those major battles like Daddy having to rebrush little boy's teeth after them and picking up toys before going to bed.

Conversations about the various colors of poopy are allowed.

Play clothes and church clothes are synonymous. 

Vegetables somehow don't make the meal menus.

Instead of rushing to doctor we work on getting a BB ball out of a little nose.

One word - videofest.

Two Days Left

Less than 48 hours Robin will be back.  In the past 3 days, we have...

Taken Luke to school twice and picked him up twice.  Been to Lowe's with Jack and Drew. Repaired two toilets.  Reseeded the grass in bare spots in back yard.   Broken up 4 fights between brothers.  Slept (or tried) with 3 scared little boys in one twin-sized bed all the while trying to convince two that the sand man is not real or scary.  Two morning had to tell sad little boys that mom was not here yet.  Marched in a parade pushing a stroller and carrying one boy for part the way.  Rode bikes and big wheels to the owl tree on the trail with one boy whining the whole way there and back.  Been through oh about 20 pairs of underwear.  Read through the same 3 books 3 times.  Played Luke in chess twice.... Gained greater respect for my wife and longed for her return.

October Letter

Yesterday we put into the mail or most recent newsletter.   It has pics of the boys as well as an update from our team in Serbia.

You can download a PDF version or read on-line by clicking 'preview'.

If you'd like to receive letter each month electronically or by snail mail, leave a comment and let me know.

Home Alone

Tomorrow (Thursday) Robin leaves for Long Island, New York to visit her aunt.  She will hook up her mom, sister and nephew in Philly airport and then they all fly that last leg together.   She will be gone until Monday the 6th.

Earlier this summer I suggested she do this cuz when does she get a break.

What was I thinking?!?