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!

Year of Change

One year ago yesterday, I was walking onto the stage in Century Link Field to receive my college diploma.  Four years of academic endeavors, challenges, plenty of tests, and achievement led to this exciting hallmark of life.  The "rest of life" at my fingertips, I was excited for what life held next.  It is amazing how quickly a year flies by, and it is an interesting feeling to think back to a time filled with so much reflection, reminiscing and thanksgiving.  That being said, this past year has exceeded my expectations and leaves me once again with so much to be thankful for.  

One day ago last year

Upon moving to Jackson, Wyoming, I expected to have a great year working in a church and with the people here in the community of Jackson.  I also thought that there was no way I would be staying here longer than right now.  Wow, was I wrong.  The beautiful and picturesque scenery of Jackson is absolutely breathtaking, but it does not even compare to the friendships that I have developed this past year, the learning that I have experienced, and God's daily provision in my life.  Numerous people have come into my life at exactly the right time that support me, challenge me, and teach me valuable lessons about life.  As expected, these relationships have resulted in a large amount of joy and memorable times.  To think that a community of people would welcome me as I have been welcomed is very humbling, and prompts me to do the same for others.  

About a month ago I had an internal crisis.  It was centered around the question: Have I learned anything of value this year???  A year removed from college graduation, I wanted to check myself to make sure I was still being proactive about learning in my daily life.  After much thought and reflection, I came to a conclusion.  While I haven't been in a classroom this year, I have learned many lessons and skills that I would not have learned anywhere else.  I am so thankful for these lessons, and am confident that they will continue to serve me for the rest of this life here on earth and life into eternity.  

Perhaps the largest lesson that I have learned this year is that GOD is in control, is always working whether or not we choose to acknowledge it, and works in ways that we do not always understand.  While this thought might be somewhat unnerving and belittling, it provides much comfort at the same time.  Knowing that we can truly "not be afraid; [do] not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" according to Joshua 1:9 allows us to be comforted at all times that God is on our side.  

I am not sure where God will call me to after another year here in Jackson.  While this uncertainty is not always easy to live with, I think that God calls us to live with a little uncertainty in our lives.  Uncertainty gives God room to work, and provides Him with room to lead us where He has for us to go.  Beyond this, all we must do is this:

"Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."  

Joshua 1: 6-9

Stay tuned for a post in the next couple of weeks about my summer gig leading our new "Middle School Explorers" program through my church's JOY (Jesus Oriented Youth) Summer Camp.  Preview picture is above.  Also, pray for us as we leave for our High School Mission Trip to New Jersey tomorrow morning to help with Hurricane Sandy relief efforts.  

And the road of life keeps rolling on.  Take a minute and count your blessings today.  You might be surprised at how many you come up with...