A Hopeful Re-Centering

As I write this blog post, the sky is thick in the valley that many title "Jackson Hole". Another snowstorm is rolling in, and you can hardly see the small buttes that lie about a mile away (let alone the large Teton Range in the distance). The winter here is very cold, but it is not without numerous exciting moments. Relationships with the Children, Youth, their families, and Young Adults here continue to deepen - providing me with much joy. In January, we had the privilege of serving those around us - highlighted by a "Great Lasagna Mission" where we made nearly 100 lasagnas to give to those in need! We are also preparing for and looking forward to leading our Youth Group through World Vision's 30 Hour Famine this month and on an international Mission Trip to Guatemala this June. Similar to last winter, I have much enjoyed the skiing that Jackson has to offer. The joys of skiing are enhanced by sharing them with students, friends and students' parents!  

While there are many events and experiences to highlight this winter, there are also many unknowns and changes looming on my mind.  These unknowns and changes are similar to the thick clouds currently gathering in Jackson. Whether it is the unknown of what I will be doing in 6 months (after the conclusion of my time here), the impending pastoral transition at our church, or questioning what I have learned while here in Jackson; I realize that these are the devil's tricks to pull me off of the course that God has for me. Division, malice and hatred result when we listen to these lies that the devil tempts us with. This is not the result I desire.

There are many things reminding me that service to the LORD is of great value (all of these coming only with God's help): relationships with people here, constant encouragement from family and friends back home, and a renewed excitement at church/around Jackson for pursuing the LORD. All that being said, my deepest assurance has been (and will continue to be) found in scripture. I am truly SO THANKFUL for God's Word, and the daily sustenance that it provides me (and can provide all of us)! What a gift to have God's Word to read (with the help of the Holy Spirit), learn about Him, and draw closer to Him! Allow me to share some of the verses that have aided in the above journey.

"How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."

Psalm 119:103-105

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full!"

John 10:10

"Taste and see that the LORD is good, blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.

Fear the LORD, you His holy people, for those who fear Him lack nothing.

The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing."
Psalm 34:8-10

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Matthew 6:33-34

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 

John 16:33

These verses definitely put this life in perspective for me. My prayer for all of us is that we can draw closer to our loving, everlasting God, and to follow His Son Jesus with the whole of each of our lives. The gift of new life in Christ is free! After accepting this gift, let us put behind our old, sinful selves, and follow Him wholeheartedly, learning from His Word the whole way! Some of the "clouds" in our lives just might lift as a result of doing this.

View of the Tetons flying into Jackson (Grand on the left)

Making Lasagnas! 

View of Jackson on a sunset hike

Having fun on the National Elk Refuge

More Elk Refuge fun

Some big Bulls

Representing the Seahawks!

Skiing some powder!!

The Person of Jesus

As I started thinking about yet another journey through Advent - a season of celebration of Jesus' incarnation and anticipation of His second coming - I was struck by the fact that Jesus is still alive! Frequently, I fall into looking only to Jesus' life here on earth (recorded in the Gospels) and forget that He is alive right now.  Jesus not only gave us a flawless example of how to love, but He is still alive and able to direct us into a life lived for God's glory TODAY!  

I thought that Jesus' guidance in this Matthew passage was helpful in reminding us of a tangible way to fall more in love with the person of Jesus - and the life that He provides for each of us - every day of this exciting season of preparation:

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, 'Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?'  He called a child, whom he put among them, and said 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me'"

Matthew 18:1-5

Here are some pictures from a week spent at home with family for Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving family hike

 Family Photo after many attempts

Discovery Park

 Great stroll around Discovery Park with Jill, Nate/Lizz and Preston/Deanna!

 Fun visit from Preston and Deanna!

 Spiderweb with dew

 Mossy woods

 All at dinner at Ivar's Salmon House

The Secret of Surrender

Fall is dwindling away quickly here in Wyoming.  The snow comes almost weekly, and I have a hunch that it is almost here to stay.  The brief nature of fall in Wyoming also illustrates how quickly time seems to fly here.  Work is enjoyable, challenging, and rewarding.  One (of many) highlights from this fall has been organizing our Wednesday After School program.  We pick up about 16 Elementary school and 8 Middle School students every Wednesday from school.  It is a wonderful time of fellowship, exploration around the valley (on field trips), and learning about God in our weekly devotions.  I am so happy that I chose to stay for another year to serve this church and community!  I count it as a large blessing to be able to share the Good News of my Lord and Savior with people of all ages for my job!

Outside of work, I have been attempting to find, hunt, and harvest an elk.  I can also call this new hobby "early morning hiking", as I still have yet to shoot an elk.  My famous saying for the past month and a half has been "maybe tomorrow morning".  The snowfall also makes me very excited for ski season and the great recreation/fellowship that skiing brings!

On another note, I just finished reading a book titled 7 Men, and the Secret of their Greatness by Eric Metaxas. This book is made up of seven concise, but gripping biographies: focusing on George Washington, William Wilberforce, Eric Liddell, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jackie Robinson, Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II), and Charles Colson.  You might wonder what these men all have in common. Personally, I think that it is the best thing to have in common. They all lived selfless lives of complete surrender to God, were devoted to being a disciple of Jesus, and had a huge impact on the people (and world) around them as a result.  From William Wilberforce's leadership in the movement to abolish slavery in England to Charles Colson's worldwide Prison Ministries, God used these men's devotion for His glory.  These men's surrender and devotion did not come without sacrifices, but it is obvious that what it yielded was truly "a hundred fold" of what they could have previously imagined.  I will let you read the rest of the book and find out more on your own, you will not be disappointed!

Mentioning this book is motivated mainly by the encouragement that it has provided me with in the past few weeks.  I find it so affirming to read about men who have "finished well", fulfilling what God says in His Word about those who choose to follow Him.  Here are a few examples from scripture pointing to complete surrender, service, and eternal joy that results.

"Blessed are those who trust in the LORD, whose trust is in the LORD.  They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream.  It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:42

"But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code." Romans 7:6

This is what I hope to do in this life I have been so generously gifted with!

Enjoy some pictures from this fall

On top of a cloud blanket while hunting

Fish fun at the National Museum of Wildlife Art!

Making Pizzas!

Snake River sunrise

Looking north towards the tetons

Teton Sunset

Goodbye Preston and Deanna, have fun in Vancouver!

Snow from the office

Binoculars

Recently, I've been thinking a lot about binoculars.  Binoculars are two lenses that allow for both eyes to focus in on a distant object.  Since both eyes are used in binoculars, one receives a three dimensional view that includes better depth perception than if only one eye were being used.  In short, binoculars help us see distant objects and are an incredibly meaningful tool. 

By helping us to see distant objects and landmarks, binoculars often encourage us to travel to the place we are viewing - whether it be a distant hill or a lake in a valley.  After a little exertion and work, we eventually reach the landmark we set out for.  By reaching the landmark, we receive two things: a sense of satisfaction, and an entirely new perspective into the view of the landscape.

So why have I been thinking about binoculars?  Well, I think that binoculars are a great metaphor for what we focus on in our every day lives.  If we are focused on success (whether it be corporate, educational, financial, relational, or physical), we will often be successful - only to realize that there is more success to be had.  If we focus on doing the wrong thing (usually unintentionally, but sometimes intentionally), it will most likely lead to more of the wrong thing (i.e. sin), and more ways to incorporate that into our lives.

The crazy thing about binoculars is that you can only look in ONE DIRECTION!  What direction do you want to look in?  Let your binoculars be ever focused on Jesus!!  If we focus on Jesus and continually follow and serve Him, we will experience life in a way that God intends, and that we yearn for.  It doesn't matter what our daily task is, we can do it in a way that is focused on Jesus.  Not only will we learn innumerable things, we will receive perspective into a new life that is matchless.  We will also be blessed and receive salvation anew every day.  Focus on Jesus and choose to follow Him today, He will not disappoint in where He takes us!

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfector of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, disregarded its shame, and has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God!" 

Hebrews 12:1-2

Great view from a bike ride the other day

Divine Assurance

"I life up my eyes to the hills - from where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.

He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade at your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day, not the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life.

The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore!"

Psalm 121

This Psalm is about as straightforward as they come.  It is reminding us who is in charge, who is protecting us, and who is guiding us.  I don't know about you, but when I think about God creating mountains, it makes me feel incredibly small.  At the same time, the intricacy and absolutely finite detail of our own bodies reminds us that God cares enough to make us in such a wonderful way.  The vastness and detail of creation is so incredible that many people spend their lifetimes studying it (whether or not they believe it to be "creation").

With this in mind, read the above Psalm again.  If God was able to create the universe, earth, and each of us in such great detail, how could He not be keeping us, guiding us, and watching us?  God's power of creating and His omnipresence in the whole universe can be both incomprehensible and belittling to us, but I think that they are absolutely assuring.

Now that is a Divine Assurance!


Here are some mountain pictures from a weekend backpacking trip in the Tetons:

Cascade Canyon

Baby Moose on trailside

Sunset on Grand with friends in foreground

Morning over Solitude Lake

Reflection on Solitude

Storm rolling in

Wildflowers with Solitude in the background

Looking southeast at the Grand Teton

Cascade-Paintbrush Divide

The Divide

Down Paintbrush Canyon

More than a Chasing of the Wind...

As anticipated, this summer has been one full of activity.

It began with a week-long mission trip with our High School students to Jersey Shore in Middletown, New Jersey.  It was a wonderful time of relationship building with our High School kids, traveling in a much different place, learning more about service, and having a sufficient amount of fun in the process!  The devastation from Hurricane Sandy is still present in pockets (largely based on high and low points in the rolling hills of NJ where we were), but it is still distinct nearly 10 months after the disaster.  Our group spent the week doing various manual labor service projects, passing out flyers for relief efforts, and serving in soup kitchens.  In our week in New Jersey, we definitely learned that service is about doing whatever is asked - whether or not it is the expected task.  This lesson was a valuable one for both the leaders and the students.  Following a week of service, we were rewarded with a day trip to New York City, highlighted by a Yankees game in a luxury box!

Upon returning from New Jersey, I jumped right back into my job as a Middle School teacher/counselor at the JOY Summer Camp at my church.  It has been a great experience of learning how to affirm kids in who they are, their positive actions, and most importantly teaching them about Jesus - and the importance of His life to ours.  Going into this summer, I did not know exactly what to expect with this job, but I have found great joy in the privilege and blessing of sharing the Gospel with numerous kids on a daily basis.  Some highlights include: going to Yellowstone to see Old Faithful, going fly fishing, going on numerous hikes, doing some fun crafts, and biking around town.

Two weekends ago, I decided to take Monday off from work and travel up practically to Canada to visit my sister Britta in Glacier National Park.  She is working at Glacier in the Rising Sun Campground and with the non-profit "A Christian Ministry for the National Parks".  Even though it was a 9 hour drive in both directions, the trip was totally worth it.  It was truly refreshing to see Britta (after nearly 7 months apart), catch up on life, and spend time in an absolutely gorgeous and vast location.  The mountains of Glacier weathered and very old - almost as if they are the Tetons' grandparent - incredibly unique, and stretch out in a nearly endless fashion.  If you have a chance before mid-September, I'm sure Britta would love visitors!

Recently, I have been reading through Ecclesiastes.  A book that many think was written by Solomon, it contains great insights into life and the purpose of life here on earth.  A man who chose wisdom when God offered him riches, wisdom, or power - we have much to learn from Solomon.  What sticks out to me about this book is how Solomon dissects mortal life, and ultimately discovers that it is meaningless, or a "chasing after wind".  However, he says that one thing gives meaning to life:  

"There is nothing better for mortals than to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in their toil.  This also, I saw is from the hand of God; for apart from Him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases Him, God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy"

Ecclesiastes 2:24-26a

We all yearn for purpose in life.  This summer, I have had many different activities, - from serving in New Jersey, to telling kids about Jesus, to enjoying the great outdoors - but without a greater purpose, these activities would be pointless.  Luckily, God's hand is living and active in each of our lives (whether or not we choose to acknowledge it).  If we thank God for what we get to do with each day we are given, and count everything we do as a blessing from God and His handiwork, our perspective will change drastically!  Remember that Jesus said "I have come that they (you!) may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).  Thank God for the little and big things in the life you have been given each day.  Without thinking about this, you might be missing out on the true enjoyment that God has for you in this life!

Enjoy some photos from my summer thus far...

Part of our Service team

 

In the Yankees Luxury box!

Looking out at the NJ Bay

Complete devastation

Summer Camp trip to Old Faithful

Craft Time!

Caught a fish!

Biking around town

On Top of Dawson Pass

Awesome picture

Britta enjoying the wildflowers

The Tetons from the Eastern approach on the drive home!