I have become a fan of firefox. I love it. If you have not checked it out, you need to. The tabbed pages, the add-on (adblocker plus; flashblocker; Foxytunes), and everything else makes it great. You can even add an IE engine to look at pages with an IE interface if it doesn't look right in Firefox. Just some very cool stuff!

Definitely a happy fathers day!

We showed this video at the beginning of our Jr. High and High School programs this morning...I just had to pass it along...too funny! Click Here

Happy Memorial day!

My Kids.

Ben recently got some clay from Grammy and decided to create a dinosaur. This is a Tyrannosaurus Rex, complete with eyes and a volcano. We were very impressed, because this was all on his own and entirely from memory. We have a little artist going here!

He also decided to make a Brontosaurus as well...

Kate got a new hat from some friends of ours. Showing it off!

Karen and I recently went to a viewing of "A Closer Walk" which is a documentary about AIDS in the world. I have to admit, I have stayed pretty oblivious to this issue in my life. I was aware of it, but tended to insulate myself from it. However, one of the things I have been trying to do is become more aware of world issues and to expose myself to them. This is a very moving and challenging documentary. It is filled with both personal stories and facts about the disease, many of which are very disturbing. I would invite anyone to find out more, or try to attend a viewing of this. Whether or not you are moved to take an active role or not is one thing, but to be uninformed is another. Who knows what God will move us to do out of this, but I can say that my heart is beginning to be more open to the needs of a world that not only needs Jesus, but also needs people to respond like Jesus.

Here is a picture of Ben with the family we built a home for. Juan Carlos and his wife Maria, and their four kids, Leticia, Carla, Estefani, and Carlos. I love this photo! According to the bio, he is a bricklayer who makes $80 a week, but when I was down there, he had been out of work for three months because of an operation, but hoped to be going back to work soon.

Definitely gives you perspective.

I just got back from a mission trip to Mexico through Baja Christian Ministries with our Student Ministry. I have done a trip like this every spring break for the past 11 years, and it is by far my favorite trip that I do. This year, I had the opportunity to take Ben with me. What an awesome trip! It was so cool to watch Ben interact with the local kids (the universal language of fun and games) and to share his toys (they are playing with a football that he brought and left with them). He also helped out pounding nails and helping the dad of one of the houses dig a hole for a fence, entirely on his own. I am very proud. The kids we took loved him as well. The group that went was great, worked hard, and we built 2 homes for 2 families. In addition, they did several VBS groups, and blew me away at their generosity in house warming gifts. It was a great trip. If you ever have the opportunity to do a missions trip, I highly recommend it. It will change your life. I always come back humbled a bit more.

I just finished Andy Stanley's book "Louder than Words" which was given to me by my brother in law at Christmas time. I am a fan of Andy Stanley and really enjoyed and was challenged by this book. It is a book about character, and the need to pursue it in our lives.

Two particular things I liked about it were the chapters connected to renewal that spoke of putting off the old self and putting on the new. In particular, it was his point of challenging the lies that you tell yourself all the time. I really resonated with that because I am often very guilty of listening to the lies in my head, the personal attacks that I deliver on myself quite easily and frequently. But when considering Stanley's words, I tried to begin to really process what I was saying to myself and asking the question, "is this true, or is it a lie?" and then working on identifying the lie. It has been helpful.

The second chapter was about the new self, and basically reinforcing the truths of God's word in regards to my life. Though I have spoken of this often, especially as a pastor, to be challenged with those words on a personal level has been difficult, but beneficial. But as I have taken to reading God's word more lately, truth really is hopeful. It is a life long process, which is clearly reinforced in the book, and is common sense, though many times we want to read a book, apply the principles, and in a flash be fixed, but obviously, that is not reality.

It is a book worth reading, because as a close friend once told me, God honors character development. I believe it is true, but the process of it can be very painful, but so was the cross. Thanks be to God, that my righteousness is not by my works, but by his work. May my life reflect his character in the embrace of his grace!