Since we left Franklin, we have been to the following National Parks. Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, Glacier, Redwoods, Yosemite, Sequoia, Grand Canyon and presently we are at Zion in Utah. We have driven down the beautiful Oregon coast, we have walked with the stars in Hollywood, ridden the waves at Newport Beach in California and we have relaxed for a week in Phoenix, Az. But today we went canyoneering in a slot canyon and it just about topped everything that we have done so far. We repelled down a 100 foot cliff and we chimmeyed (hands on one wall and feet on the other) down many tight places. We even went into and got out of a keeper hole. It was an amazing day with much adventure but it was also a great reminder that life is so much more than just enjoying the great outdoors.

My reminder came by the name of Greg. He was our guide. He was a great guy who was very good at what he did but it did not take long in talking to him to realize that he was lost. He knew there was a god but that god (whoever he was) was not personal and not knowable. He reminded me of another person I met in Montana while we were staying at Kathy’s mother’s home. He too was a rock climber. He spoke to me about the spirituality of nature and about how you can connect with the trees and the rocks and the spirituality of the great outdoors. But again there was nothing personal about his god. Nothing to relate to on a intimate basis. It is one thing to know there is a god out there who created this incredible place where we live and quite another thing to know that God in our hearts on a daily basis. To know Him in such an intimate way that we can trust Him with our lives. It is an incredible privilege to have access to that revelation in our hearts. What a mighty God we serve. May we continually pray for the wisdom to be able to share that hope with others.

One other thought I have had on this trip is how much we are created to live for and serve God. I have truly enjoyed seeing the incredible world God has created for us - the hiking and sightseeing and touring has been simply amazing but in the midst of it all I have a yearning in my heart to be doing something more. Just living for me, for what I can do and what I can see is not enough. Just doing what I want would seem like life at its best, but in the end it is not fulfilling. In other words just living for the weekend is not what life is all about. We are created to do something more than just meet our own needs. We were created to live lives that glorify God by serving Him and fulfilling His will. I have always known that but now I am more convinced of it than ever before. We covet your prayers as we seek how and where God would have us to do that in the future.

I have been so poor at keeping up this blog I thought I would try something shorter. So here is a quick thought for you. When we were in Oregon we stopped off at a Bible School where friend of mine from Seminary is the President. At dinner that night he shared with us that they had a new chancellor named Wayne Cordeiro. When he said the name I recognized that he was the person who wrote the Life Journal that I had been using as my devotional and I had passed many of them out at Galloway Church where I had been pastoring. He said they were using the Life Journal too and then he added that Wayne was in town and that he was meeting with them every morning at 6:30 am to do the journal. So the next morning I went and did the Life Journal with Wayne. Before we did the journal he shared a short thought that really struck me and I believe it will bless you as well. He made the point that when a baby is first learning to walk they must go from a secure position of standing on two legs to an insecure position of standing on one leg and leaning onto the other one. Only when they are willing to leave the secure position and take the risk of stepping out into the unknown - to a less secure position - will they ever learn how to walk. Of course walking opens a whole new realm of possibilities. As he shared that I thought that is what we are doing. We have left a secure position of ministry and stepped out into the unknown believing that God has great things down the line. I must admit I was somewhat fearful to leave that secure position but stepping out has truly opened up our lives to many amazing experiences. Every day has proven to be an adventure as we take one step at a time.

I do not know what God has in store for each of you but I do know that the "steps of a righteous person are ordered by the Lord." So I encourage you not to be afraid to take that step that the Lord has placed upon your heart. Living in the security of the past and the present is ok but taking the risk to leave the secure and step out - is really the way to greater things. May you never become emtombed in the security of the moment. God has more for you than that. Bless you as you prayerfully seek each day to walk by faith!!!