Alex received his first pair of glasses Friday afternoon. If you see him, make sure you tell him how handsome he looks.
5.13.2007
5.11.2007
Student leadership weekend
Last weekend saw our whole staff team gather student leaders from campuses all over Portland for our end-of-the-year leadership overnight. We had about 50 students attend, and feedback has been very good.
The whole thing was done in less than 24 hours. Students today have a hard time getting away for a full weekend, so we changed the format a little to shorten it up. We held the retreat in a local hotel, the Lloyd Center Doubletree (very nice!) which gave us a discount on rooms.
As for content, it was a firehose. We had a few speakers, we had seminar times, and we had some workshops for the campuses to talk through their individual plans. We are tryin to move the students more in a direction of "simple ministry" where rather than building a large meeting and hoping to attract non-Christians, they will be actively going to where non-Christians are, and knowing and loving them there.
In my opinion, it was one of the best things we did as a team this year.
4.27.2007
Liz Duncan
In the summer of 2002, I (Anne) held the position of Associate Project Director for the Lake Tahoe Summer Project. What that means is, I gave leadership to the 41 student women who descended upon Lake Tahoe for the summer in order to develop in their leadership and ministry skills. One of those women was Liz Duncan.In 2002, Liz was a senior, and a star soccer player at Washington State University. She had a passion to reach athletes with the gospel and launched a ministry to athletes at WSU which is still vibrant today. Following her graduation, she went on to serve full-time with Athletes in Action, a branch of Campus Crusade for Christ.
Last Saturday, while Liz was out running, she was hit by an oncoming car and killed. She was 26. You can read more about the accident and Liz's life here and here. There is also an article on the AIA website (link above).
Whereas this is sad, sad news, what encourages me is how Liz's life impacted so many others because of her faith in Christ. If you read the local newspaper articles, you will see that even her death is having quite an impact also. As I reflect on this, so recently after the Virgina Tech tragedy, I am still hit with one thought......College students really do have the ability to change the world!
Allison's Heaven
Anne: "Allison, tell Dad who you told me the other day we will see in Heaven."
Allison: "Ummm...Millie [our friend's recently deceased Golden Retriever], dead ponies, Sabretooth tigers, God...and T-Rex, but they won't bite you!!"
Me: "And what will Jesus say to you when you get to Heaven?"
Allison: "Let's have cake and ice cream!"
Allison: "Ummm...Millie [our friend's recently deceased Golden Retriever], dead ponies, Sabretooth tigers, God...and T-Rex, but they won't bite you!!"
Me: "And what will Jesus say to you when you get to Heaven?"
Allison: "Let's have cake and ice cream!"
4.25.2007
More from Africa
As I mentioned yesterday, I have just returned from a visit to South Africa with Campus Crusade. I will be posting more over the next few days, but here is the overview of my trip.
In the United States Campus Ministry of CCC (the "USCM"), one of our great values is raising up and sending students to other countries around the world. We do this not only to help other countries have the gospel, but also to cultivate in our students a mindset of reaching the lost wherever God calls the students to be.
For many years, Africa as a whole has not been a location to which we in the USCM have sent many students. There are many reasons for this, most of which are too technical to go into. But one major reason is that in years past, the African CCC leaders have not generally placed major importance on campus ministry, choosing instead to invest time and money in other strategies such as the Jesus Film. What this has meant for the USCM is that there have been few opportunities for us to send US students to African locations that are willing and able to receive them. A partnership of this type requires two willing parties.
That is changing, though, and that is why the team I went with was in Africa in the first place. African CCC is realizing more and more that if they really want to reach their nations and their continent for Christ, than they will have to invest more resources in reaching their campuses, where their future people of influence are gathered. So, they are becoming more willing to look at receiving teams of American students to help with evangelism on their campuses.
I travelled with eight other CCC staff from various places around the US to Cape Town, South Africa, for the meetings. We met with three African campus ministry leaders, each responsible for campus ministries in 13 or more countries, to talk about the issues of past histories and to begin exploring if partnering together is the right thing to do at this time. We had many hours of good, open talks about many things. We talked about differences between ministry in the US and Africa. We listened to these three men talk about the realities they faced every single day in their own lives, as well as the lives of their students (I will write more about this later - you won't even believe what you'll hear). We asked many questions about what we heard from them, and tried to see things through their grid. Most importantly, we "let them come to us," in regards to partnership, rather than assuming that they needed or wanted us to do so. With the still-looming shadow of colonialsim all over Africa, it is very dangerous to assume that they need or want our help. If they ask for it we can pursue relationship, and even then it will need to be on their terms, not ours.
Overall, it was a very productive time. It felt like in one week we took several months of steps toward working together. I am still processing what I saw and heard there, and will do my best to share some of that with you all. Getting to know the three African ministers, and hearing about their lives and ministries, will remain one of the highlights of my ministry career.
More to come...
In the United States Campus Ministry of CCC (the "USCM"), one of our great values is raising up and sending students to other countries around the world. We do this not only to help other countries have the gospel, but also to cultivate in our students a mindset of reaching the lost wherever God calls the students to be.
For many years, Africa as a whole has not been a location to which we in the USCM have sent many students. There are many reasons for this, most of which are too technical to go into. But one major reason is that in years past, the African CCC leaders have not generally placed major importance on campus ministry, choosing instead to invest time and money in other strategies such as the Jesus Film. What this has meant for the USCM is that there have been few opportunities for us to send US students to African locations that are willing and able to receive them. A partnership of this type requires two willing parties.
That is changing, though, and that is why the team I went with was in Africa in the first place. African CCC is realizing more and more that if they really want to reach their nations and their continent for Christ, than they will have to invest more resources in reaching their campuses, where their future people of influence are gathered. So, they are becoming more willing to look at receiving teams of American students to help with evangelism on their campuses.
I travelled with eight other CCC staff from various places around the US to Cape Town, South Africa, for the meetings. We met with three African campus ministry leaders, each responsible for campus ministries in 13 or more countries, to talk about the issues of past histories and to begin exploring if partnering together is the right thing to do at this time. We had many hours of good, open talks about many things. We talked about differences between ministry in the US and Africa. We listened to these three men talk about the realities they faced every single day in their own lives, as well as the lives of their students (I will write more about this later - you won't even believe what you'll hear). We asked many questions about what we heard from them, and tried to see things through their grid. Most importantly, we "let them come to us," in regards to partnership, rather than assuming that they needed or wanted us to do so. With the still-looming shadow of colonialsim all over Africa, it is very dangerous to assume that they need or want our help. If they ask for it we can pursue relationship, and even then it will need to be on their terms, not ours.
Overall, it was a very productive time. It felt like in one week we took several months of steps toward working together. I am still processing what I saw and heard there, and will do my best to share some of that with you all. Getting to know the three African ministers, and hearing about their lives and ministries, will remain one of the highlights of my ministry career.
More to come...
4.24.2007
Back from Africa
Hello everyone! I am back home after a nine-day trip to South Africa with Campus Crusade. My journey home took 42 hours door-to-door, but I will be sharing my experiences and pictures here over the next few days. It was an amazing time and I can't wait for you to hear about it!
4.18.2007
Tragedy at Virginia Tech
Many of you have asked about the Campus Crusade movement at Virginia Tech, and how they are responding to the recent tragedy. On the VT campus we have a staff team of 10 members, and there are over 500 students involved in the CCC ministry. Four of the deceased were students who happened to be involved with Campus Crusade. To read more about how to pray specifically for this campus, as well as testimonies from current students and CCC staff, please click here. To read about one of the students who was involved in the ministry, please click here.Mark Gauthier, our National Director of the Campus Ministry writes this, "...the tragic events and great losses that occurred at Virginia Tech have left us grieving and clinging to the Lord in this difficult time. Though our understanding is limited, it is in these desperate times that we are reminded that we have a great High Priest who has gone before us, who loves us, and prepares a place for us. And because He stands at the right hand of the Father even now, we pray. "
Thank you for praying for those at Virginia Tech.
4.13.2007
Easter Sunday
They move so quickly when they are hunting for eggs that it is hard to take a good picture....
4.09.2007
3.31.2007
How Anne Spent an Hour on Friday...
Allison's stuffed Wishy (what she calls her Wish Bear Care Bear) broke her leg. I'm not sure how that happened. Anyway, we placed a band-aid on the leg, and then wrapped her leg with medical tape to make a cast. This took about 10 minutes. Then we nursed Wishy back to health. This took another 10 minutes. After her leg was healed, we needed to remove the tape. The tape worked too well and was stuck to all the fur on her leg. I needed to carefully cut through the tape and remove tiny pieces at a time in order for it to come off. This took about 40 minutes. Now, Wishy is all better.
3.29.2007
Sugar and spice
I am learning that God gives us little boys to show us who we could become, or who we could have been. A boy looks up to his Dad and believes, for a time, that Dad is the greatest. I say, that kind of thinking can be contagious!
If boys are given to show us what we could be, then God gives us little girls to show us who we really are. Case in point:
We try to teach the kids that there is a difference between "like" and "love". Love is a long-time word, based on commitment and trust. "Like" is a circumstantial word; therefore we always love someone, even if we don't always like them at the time.
Anne and Allison were out the other day when Allison said, "Sometimes I don't like Dad." Anne, a little taken aback, told her that that wasn't a very nice thing to say about Dad. Allison's reply: "Well Mom, he makes the house kind of stinky sometimes. You know, like when he gets home from running, or when he is sleeping."
As Anne recounted this for me at dinner, I looked over at Allison, feigning surprise. Without hesitation she said, "It's OK, Dad, I still love you."
If boys are given to show us what we could be, then God gives us little girls to show us who we really are. Case in point:
We try to teach the kids that there is a difference between "like" and "love". Love is a long-time word, based on commitment and trust. "Like" is a circumstantial word; therefore we always love someone, even if we don't always like them at the time.
Anne and Allison were out the other day when Allison said, "Sometimes I don't like Dad." Anne, a little taken aback, told her that that wasn't a very nice thing to say about Dad. Allison's reply: "Well Mom, he makes the house kind of stinky sometimes. You know, like when he gets home from running, or when he is sleeping."
As Anne recounted this for me at dinner, I looked over at Allison, feigning surprise. Without hesitation she said, "It's OK, Dad, I still love you."
3.28.2007
Woe is me!
This winter and spring has been a great time for our family in every way. Our marriage is in great shape after ten years, the kids are amazing, fun, smart, beautiful - and God has blessed us in uncountable ways over the last few months. Except...
I am falling apart.
I don't mean to complain, and I am not, but it has taken me 32 years to come to grips with getting older. I was surprised to wake up one day recently and discover that I am not 19 anymore. I cannot eat anything I want, at any time, in any quantity (although I usually do); I cannot neglect exercise and still get fitter anyway; I have had a series of times 'losing my train of thought,' where I will literally forget what I am saying as I am saying it; and more. The human body does wind down over time, does it not?
Case in point: Anne and I are training again this year for the Portland Marathon on October 7. In order to have a huge head start, I started training in January. I modestly increased my weekly mileage by three miles each week, which is normal, and began to get fit again. I even grew to appreciate running in 35 degree rain - not an easy sell for a soft creature like me.
In mid-February, 19-year-old Adam was running along comfortably for twelve miles when 32-year-old Adam decided to steal the show. The resulting calf-ankle injury made walking an iffy proposition for two or three days. I prudently cut back my miles, iced the affected area, and after about four weeks was ready to begin easing into training again, when...
Taking advantage of a sunny Saturday to work outside, I stepped on a nail (better, a "spike") that went about 1/4 inch into my injured foot. Once again, walking was interesting for a few days. After resting it for about a week, I was once more ready to head out when...
I got hit with a nasty cold. 19-year-old Adam got sick maybe once a year. 32-year-old Adam has been sick twice in 2007 alone. And EVERY cold symptom this was present this time, not one of those puny "sniffles colds".
Today saw me feeling better and ready again to head out, when...
I had to get immunized for a trip I will be taking soon (details to come) - the full spectrum: Hep A and B, Typhoid, Polio, Tetanus - everything somebody would need for travel in Africa (seriously, details will come).
I apparently fall into the 30% of people who have a mildly serious reaction to the shots: fever, dizzyyyytrkm (just kidding), runny nose...basically my cold has found new allies in the antibodies the nurse gave me.
So, when will I run again? It needs to be soon, because my appetite revved up back in early February when I was still 19, but my clothes are starting to fit me like I am 32.
I am falling apart.
I don't mean to complain, and I am not, but it has taken me 32 years to come to grips with getting older. I was surprised to wake up one day recently and discover that I am not 19 anymore. I cannot eat anything I want, at any time, in any quantity (although I usually do); I cannot neglect exercise and still get fitter anyway; I have had a series of times 'losing my train of thought,' where I will literally forget what I am saying as I am saying it; and more. The human body does wind down over time, does it not?
Case in point: Anne and I are training again this year for the Portland Marathon on October 7. In order to have a huge head start, I started training in January. I modestly increased my weekly mileage by three miles each week, which is normal, and began to get fit again. I even grew to appreciate running in 35 degree rain - not an easy sell for a soft creature like me.
In mid-February, 19-year-old Adam was running along comfortably for twelve miles when 32-year-old Adam decided to steal the show. The resulting calf-ankle injury made walking an iffy proposition for two or three days. I prudently cut back my miles, iced the affected area, and after about four weeks was ready to begin easing into training again, when...
Taking advantage of a sunny Saturday to work outside, I stepped on a nail (better, a "spike") that went about 1/4 inch into my injured foot. Once again, walking was interesting for a few days. After resting it for about a week, I was once more ready to head out when...
I got hit with a nasty cold. 19-year-old Adam got sick maybe once a year. 32-year-old Adam has been sick twice in 2007 alone. And EVERY cold symptom this was present this time, not one of those puny "sniffles colds".
Today saw me feeling better and ready again to head out, when...
I had to get immunized for a trip I will be taking soon (details to come) - the full spectrum: Hep A and B, Typhoid, Polio, Tetanus - everything somebody would need for travel in Africa (seriously, details will come).
I apparently fall into the 30% of people who have a mildly serious reaction to the shots: fever, dizzyyyytrkm (just kidding), runny nose...basically my cold has found new allies in the antibodies the nurse gave me.
So, when will I run again? It needs to be soon, because my appetite revved up back in early February when I was still 19, but my clothes are starting to fit me like I am 32.
3.27.2007
Our New Driveway
Thanks to the IRS, and the wonderful lady who does our taxes, we now have a brand new paved driveway. For those of you who don't know, our driveway used to be gravel (which is not all that uncommon around here) and it had served us well the last four years. However, once we were aware of the amount of our tax return, we began shopping around for the best estimate from a local paving company. Not only did one company bid lower than we expected, they were also out to begin work the same week. It has been a joy to watch the kids ride their bikes, play basketball and enjoy sidewalk chalk. The work crew provided a few days of entertainment also!
3.19.2007
Book recommendation
I just finished reading Thomas Cahill's "The Gifts Of The Jews". It is one of the best books I have read in a long time, and I thought I would pass it on. The book is about the contribution of the Judeo-Christian tradition to Western society, and by extension, the world.
The book walks through the Jewish Bible (Christian Old Testament) and shows how everything in our worldview today can be traced back to Abraham's journey out of Ur in ancient Sumer. Up to that time people viewed life, and the world, as cyclical and unchanging. When God showed Himself to Abraham, suddenly life became a journey, with a past, present, and future, all being guided by the hand of God and experienced in the moment by people. This type of thinking, argues Cahill, was nonexistent before Abraham, and as the Hebrew worldview developed over the centuries, the world changed into what it is today.
Without going into too much detail, I offer a great quote:
"Unbelievers might wish to stop for a moment and consider how completely God - this Jewish God of justice and compassion - undergirds all our values and that it is just possible that human effort without this God is doomed to certain failure. Humanity's most extravagant dreams are articulated by the Jewish prophets...All who share this dream of universal brotherhood, peace, and justice, who dream the dreams and see the visions of the great prophets, must bring themselves to contemplate the possibility that without God there is no justice."
And another, speaking of the power of the Ten Commandments:
"Even as far away from Sinai in time and civilization as Hampstead Heath at the turn of the century or Central Park at the turn of the millennium, there are few who do not know that if we were to keep these commandments our world would be an entirely different place. This is such a simple, incontestable thing to say that it sounds banal. But for all our resourcefulness we have never yet managed to do it."
I can't recommend this book enough, especially in light of the growing conviction among those outside the church that Christianity and all religion has been nothing more than a hindrance to 'progress' throughout the centuries. Cahill's book puts that criticism to rest thoroughly and elegantly.
The book walks through the Jewish Bible (Christian Old Testament) and shows how everything in our worldview today can be traced back to Abraham's journey out of Ur in ancient Sumer. Up to that time people viewed life, and the world, as cyclical and unchanging. When God showed Himself to Abraham, suddenly life became a journey, with a past, present, and future, all being guided by the hand of God and experienced in the moment by people. This type of thinking, argues Cahill, was nonexistent before Abraham, and as the Hebrew worldview developed over the centuries, the world changed into what it is today.
Without going into too much detail, I offer a great quote:
"Unbelievers might wish to stop for a moment and consider how completely God - this Jewish God of justice and compassion - undergirds all our values and that it is just possible that human effort without this God is doomed to certain failure. Humanity's most extravagant dreams are articulated by the Jewish prophets...All who share this dream of universal brotherhood, peace, and justice, who dream the dreams and see the visions of the great prophets, must bring themselves to contemplate the possibility that without God there is no justice."
And another, speaking of the power of the Ten Commandments:
"Even as far away from Sinai in time and civilization as Hampstead Heath at the turn of the century or Central Park at the turn of the millennium, there are few who do not know that if we were to keep these commandments our world would be an entirely different place. This is such a simple, incontestable thing to say that it sounds banal. But for all our resourcefulness we have never yet managed to do it."
I can't recommend this book enough, especially in light of the growing conviction among those outside the church that Christianity and all religion has been nothing more than a hindrance to 'progress' throughout the centuries. Cahill's book puts that criticism to rest thoroughly and elegantly.
3.14.2007
Alex and Allison
It has been awhile since we posted pictures of the kids. We thought that you would enjoy these....
3.10.2007
Practical atheism
A couple weeks ago I posted about atheism and the view among scientists as to whether or not they believed in God or a "higher power", as opposed to claiming strict atheism. My friend Will (who has a curiously detailed understanding of Taco Bell and its workings) mentioned that atheism is becoming more acceptable as a world view.
He is in fact correct. It is becoming easier and trendier for people to label themselves atheists. One facet of this is the growing phenomenon of the "practical atheist". This is a person who is a part of a religious institution out of habit or heritage, that is impacted little or not at all at the personal level by the teachings of their religion. For example, a person that grows up in church but never really internalizes the teachings of the church, never cultivates a relationship with Christ, and lives a life that is no different than a non-member of a church, could be called a practical atheist. For all practical purposes, they may believe in God in their head, but in their life it makes no difference.
More and more of these people are realizing that if their religious heritage has no real bearing on their lives, than their lives would be easier without it. So, they are declaring themselves "atheist", or agnostic at least. Even if one of them would not formally declare themself an atheist, they would probably admit that God is not to be found in their life.
This speaks to the urgency of parents and church leaders to help cultivate the relationship with Jesus Christ that is at the heart of the Gospel. Although I would not wish anyone to leave their church tradition if they found it unuseful, who could blame them? I understand completely why they would do so. The fact is, it is much easier to discard a regiment than it is to discard a relationship. I start working out and then quit about five times each year. But I have never left my wife once in ten years.
To leave a relationship requires the counting of the cost of broken ties, hurt feelings, and the tarnishing of memories and experiences together, not to mention loneliness and regret. Sadly, for so many people, church is no more useful to them than a crash diet or an exercise gadget. And what, ultimately, could be more useful than a relationship with the creator and sustainer of all things?
He is in fact correct. It is becoming easier and trendier for people to label themselves atheists. One facet of this is the growing phenomenon of the "practical atheist". This is a person who is a part of a religious institution out of habit or heritage, that is impacted little or not at all at the personal level by the teachings of their religion. For example, a person that grows up in church but never really internalizes the teachings of the church, never cultivates a relationship with Christ, and lives a life that is no different than a non-member of a church, could be called a practical atheist. For all practical purposes, they may believe in God in their head, but in their life it makes no difference.
More and more of these people are realizing that if their religious heritage has no real bearing on their lives, than their lives would be easier without it. So, they are declaring themselves "atheist", or agnostic at least. Even if one of them would not formally declare themself an atheist, they would probably admit that God is not to be found in their life.
This speaks to the urgency of parents and church leaders to help cultivate the relationship with Jesus Christ that is at the heart of the Gospel. Although I would not wish anyone to leave their church tradition if they found it unuseful, who could blame them? I understand completely why they would do so. The fact is, it is much easier to discard a regiment than it is to discard a relationship. I start working out and then quit about five times each year. But I have never left my wife once in ten years.
To leave a relationship requires the counting of the cost of broken ties, hurt feelings, and the tarnishing of memories and experiences together, not to mention loneliness and regret. Sadly, for so many people, church is no more useful to them than a crash diet or an exercise gadget. And what, ultimately, could be more useful than a relationship with the creator and sustainer of all things?
Sorry
Sorry it's been some time since our last posting. Blogspot recently changed hands (bought by Google) and we have had some difficulty logging into the site. Hopefully we'll get it figured out and have more stories to tell. Thanks for your patience!
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