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Some GIGANTIC NEWS!
Published on 2012-05-23 11:13:00
It has been over 4 months since my last post... wow, that felt remarkably like a confession. Anyway, I'm sure there has been some speculation about what is going on with me so in an effort to squash the rumors let me assure you of the following: I did not lose my hands in some horrific missions accident. I have not been captured by the natives demanding a ransom. and NO Jamie TheVWM did NOT have me bumped off because I was holding her back! The simple truth is I've been busy. [..] > read more
the very worst missionary, the very best wife!
Published on 2012-01-20 11:33:00
My wife, JamieTheVWM, just did a guest post over at In A Mirror Daily about women in ministry you should go check it out, but while she acknowledges her call to minister I think she downplays a bit of the impact she has made in the lives of those around her. Yesterday while she was slaving away cooking me the best birthday meal EVER, I was spending hours filling out an application for a ministry position in the states. The church was asking for a copy of my conversion story and like the well p [..] > read more
therefore go...
Published on 2012-01-16 15:12:00
I was reading in the scriptures this morning, specifically Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman and something jumped out at me...Jesus went. The entire interaction between the two happens because, well, Jesus left Judea in the south and headed up north to Galilee. In this particular moment Jesus was leaving behind a little drama with the religious zealots of the day, but it got me thinking about Jesus' ministry and movement. Photo by: erindipity I don't know, maybe it's because [..] > read more
we need advocates!
Published on 2012-01-05 15:56:00
A couple of months ago I alluded to our future plans, as in we have none. Photo by: madame.furie Working in ministry, as cliché as it sounds, is one of those jobs where you need to keep yourself open to God's calling. It's hard to make plans and lay down roots when those roots may prevent you being where He wants you. I know the same rings true for all followers of Christ, but lets not scare off folks too fast. In life, and ministry, its always a good idea to look at the futur [..] > read more
father knows best
Published on 2011-12-19 13:51:00
My dad is just about the hardest working man I know. Photo by: Jocelyne Coupaud He started working as he entered teenagedom and not the kind of work you get to buy some pop and a record or two, but he worked for his clothes, his shoes, his food. He was self-sufficient at an age where most of us are still watching cartoons. Then when I was growing up he worked a job that, well let's just say he didn't love, worked extra jobs he really didn't love, he worked our land (practically a smal [..] > read more
my symphony
Published on 2011-12-14 13:55:00
I play the guitar. Well, not so much play as string a few chords together. Cut me some slack, I picked it up when I was 30. My father in law is a fantastic guitarist and I wanted my kids to learn from their grandpa so I bought my oldest a guitar for Christmas. Of course I knew nothing, but I knew I would be the go to guy when grandpa wasn’t around so I had the father in law give me a quick lesson on how to tune the guitar, then he showed me a few chords, then a couple of songs, then I went [..] > read more
interview at exfake.com
Published on 2011-12-07 08:30:00
A few weeks ago I received an email from Bernard Shuford over at ExFake.com. He said they were launching a new blog that was trying to express "genuine, authentic Christianity" and he wanted to post an interview with yours truly. While I'm not sure that I always live out a genuine , authentic Christianity, I do try. So head over to ExFake.com and checkout the interview, and while your there do what you can: follow, like, subscribe and interact. ecwrites http://exfake.com/2011/12/07/an-inte [..] > read more
fill up
Published on 2011-11-29 12:01:00
The guys told me they would be done around 3:30 yesterday, so when I left at around 4 o'clock to pick up the boys from school, I thought they would be ready to go when I got back. These guys were doing a little work for us here on campus and they had never been to our small town so I told their boss I would drop them off at the bus stop when they finished. As we pull up to the campus, I see one of them shimmying up the scaffold with some materials. It was an hour later then quitting time by [..] > read more
giving thanks
Published on 2011-11-24 11:01:00
Our forefathers left their homes, their families, the stability that comes from routine and embarked on a journey that would change their lives, and history forever. Photo by: Ross Motivated by the hope of religious freedom, the possibility of riches, maybe even the desire for adventure they arrived with faith. Faith they would live to see the shore and the land would sustain them. What they found was a harsh and unfamiliar land where they had to fight to survive. We love to roma [..] > read more
the alaskan funk—short term mission gone…meh…
Published on 2011-11-22 10:12:00
The other day I received an email from a reader about a short term trip he served on. We have all heard the stories about lives changed, babies held, and the hungry fed. We know what can happen on a well-planned, well-executed short-term missions trip, but what about the others? Here is an account of one of the others. The story is long, but needs to be heard. ecwrites Last week I spent 5 days in Alaska on a mission trip. Our goal was to finish up a lengthy punch list of projects inten [..] > read more
it's been tough
Published on 2011-11-16 10:14:00
The last couple of weeks have been pretty tough on me. As missionaries we plan our lives in chunks. We make commitments of 2-4 years to a mission or an agency. Beyond the current commitment it's almost impossible to know what the future holds. On a spiritual level it's great! By living out a more temporal lifestyle not only are we following Jesus' teachings, but we are also preventing ourselves from laying down roots. Roots that might prevent us from living the life He wants us to live [..] > read more
words of encouragement
Published on 2011-07-04 16:03:00
I want to be the best! Seriously, I love being looked up to, talked about, recognized in public. For me, its an acknowledgment that I am an important person. It validates me. It shows me how indispensable I am in God's Plan. It means that I > read more
falling rocks, are you nuts?
Published on 2011-06-26 23:49:00
A couple of years ago we were adopted. We hosted a work team from our home church, Lakeside Church, and one of the guys just kinda stepped up and took us on as his personal cause. He started letting us know what was happening in the church and pas > read more
that's me, a screw up
Published on 2011-06-21 16:38:00
Its not too often that I get things right. I am more of your try it, screw it up, leave it for a while, think about it, think about going back to it, touch it again, screw it up again, consult the internet and eventually get it done type of guy. You > read more
ask me later
Published on 2011-06-17 00:48:00
A couple of weeks ago I broke down and asked for some help. I solicited all of you to help maintain this blog by doing a little guest posting and I must say I had a lot more takers than I would have ever guessed so if you have not yet heard bac > read more
borrowed words
Published on 2011-06-08 11:27:00
Every day when I am getting dressed, I see them: My son's arms spread wide, waiting for a hug. And every night when I am getting ready for bed I hear him say, "You're the best dad ever" It helps get me through the day knowing that he cares f > read more
a helping hand
Published on 2011-06-02 17:13:00
I have been struggling recently. No, I'm not doubting God's existence or sending pictures of my junk across the web (àla Representative Weiner), but I have been asking myself a few questions lately. I am required to suffer for Jesus, right? > read more
I'm Still Already!
Published on 2011-01-31 18:14:00
When I was 5 we started going to church. It was one of those old-timey denominations typically associated with oatmeal. We didn't have to wear any funny hats or drive around in buggies, but we did have some scripture framed and hung prominently > read more
What is Community?
Published on 2011-01-19 15:15:00
We are a people that love community. We live in community, we play in community, we even study in community. NBC's Community When TheVWM were looking to buy our home, we sought out a good community to raise the boys. We donated to communi > read more
You Left Your Fingerprints on Me!
Published on 2011-01-17 21:19:00
So I got this new iPod touch for Christmas. Actually, TheVWM and I bought them for each other. The first gifts we have exchanged on Christmas in years. Being the great dad I am, I installed a bunch of games on it for the boys. You know, to give them > read more
Do It, BETTER!
Published on 2011-01-07 14:16:00
So I'm talking with my parents the other day about a project they have been working on for their church, Bayside Church of Lincoln. As a church they decided that they really haven't been meeting the needs of the community so they sent out > read more
Share Some Love
Published on 2011-01-05 13:33:00
It was just about a year ago that I first posted as El Chupacabra. What has surprised me most is not that people read this crap, but the willingness of others to put their reputations on the line to support, encourage, and even endorse this sit > read more
What a Difference a Culture Can Make
Published on 2011-01-01 14:22:00
Many of you already know that I have had some struggles with my self-image mostly centered around my beard. Until we became missionaries, I was unable to have a beard. In high school and college I played on football teams that had a no fac > read more
DON'T EAT ANYTHING
Published on 2010-12-24 15:58:00
I consider myself a well seasoned traveler. From jumping on a plane in some of the most efficient airports the world has to offer, to crossing borders on foot amidst political chaos and on top of rusted bridges, not to mention boarding rotting > read more
Oh Crap!!
Published on 2010-12-08 10:28:00
Enough said! > read more
I am Boycotting "Christian"!
Published on 2010-12-07 14:52:00
I am making an effort to be a little more socially relevant. My tendency is to isolate myself from the day to day goings on and focus on the task at hand. That typically means I am behind the time on news, social events, and, if you have > read more
Thanks Giving?
Published on 2010-12-06 14:25:00
I walked downstairs the other day and there, sitting on the counter, were the remains of our Thanksgiving dinner. The final bits of stuffing, the last drips of gravy, the oft leftover gelatinous clumps of cranberry sauce sitting in their small > read more