tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-98585912008-07-25T21:43:27.477-05:00Chris <><http://www.blogger.com/profile/05571412799138708766noreply@blogger.comBlogger204125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9858591.post-474967803631620182008-07-25T21:15:00.003-05:002008-07-25T21:43:27.495-05:00

I am trying a new experiment that I borrowed from Frank Laubach. He worked among the Moros on one of the Philippine islands. He journals about his experiment. On January 20, 1930 he said, "Two years ago a profound dissatisfaction led me to begin trying to line up my actions with the will of God about every fifteen minutes or every half hour." He talks about seeking to respond to God as a violin

Chris <><http://www.blogger.com/profile/05571412799138708766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9858591.post-22633106068989851092008-06-27T06:13:00.008-05:002008-06-27T14:42:20.853-05:00

Last night was our last party. There was a homecoming party that prevented several readers from coming, but the turnout was more than I had anticipated, twenty-two. We played a few fun games together. The fish game was a hit. When you hear "fish" in the story you lift up your right finger while trying to catch with your left hand the finger of the person next to you. (I cheated a little bit

Chris <><http://www.blogger.com/profile/05571412799138708766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9858591.post-40628209703450436482008-06-20T06:20:00.005-05:002008-06-20T07:17:15.089-05:00

The routine continues. We get up early (it starts getting light about 5:30 or so), get started with breakfast, feed Kayla and Tyler, get them dressed, pack a lunch for Kayla, and get bags ready for the day. Tanya leaves to walk to the school to read about 7:30am (its about a 15 minute walk) and the rest of our family starts walking about 8:00am until a taxi comes by to take us to the Christian

Chris <><http://www.blogger.com/profile/05571412799138708766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9858591.post-58621878875438864752008-06-16T08:51:00.005-05:002008-06-16T09:16:25.357-05:00

Emily arrived safely last night and I just talked to Spencer who is waiting for his flight at the airport. Please pray that this transition goes smoothly. Our reading continues today. We are completely full. There are no more spots available for reading unless a reader can't come to any of their reading times. This is great news! This is also the time when our relationships with our readers

Chris <><http://www.blogger.com/profile/05571412799138708766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9858591.post-972255447554927292008-06-12T06:06:00.007-05:002008-06-13T10:45:32.042-05:00

Last night was our first party. It was a Texas party. Betty and Raul (the preacher here) told us that this was the most readers that have ever been to a party since they started about 5 years ago. There were 34 total, including us. We played Texas People Bingo and Texas Pictionary. We explained Texas slang, but I think that was difficult to understand in Spanish. Oh yeah...we also brought Texas

Chris <><http://www.blogger.com/profile/05571412799138708766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9858591.post-24779369808680678692008-06-10T10:24:00.004-05:002008-06-10T10:44:10.407-05:00

Here are a couple of pictures of our family. I thought I would share them today. We are near the Bridge of the Americas at the end (or beginning) of the Panama Canal. There were several big cargo ships leaving the canal and cranking up their engines. Enjoy.

Chris <><http://www.blogger.com/profile/05571412799138708766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9858591.post-19510276720754095122008-06-08T18:13:00.004-05:002008-06-08T21:17:26.023-05:00

Worship in another country has always been a blessing! This morning proved to be the case once again. It was refreshing to hear the sermon translated into English, but it was also good to hear Spanish songs of adoration to our Lord. The people were so warm and friendly this morning. They enjoyed seeing Kayla and Tyler too. Our children are such easy conversation starters. Our reading starts again

Chris <><http://www.blogger.com/profile/05571412799138708766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9858591.post-65365543135322888962008-06-05T14:59:00.003-05:002008-06-05T15:08:21.418-05:00

We have arrived!! Hitting the ground running we have been reading one-on-one with readers every day since we arrived. One of Courtney's readers showed up for Wednesday night service with her mother and child. What a cool thing after only inviting them that morning. Kayla and Tyler are adjusting well. Just this morning Kayla was singing, "Arriba, up; abajo, down." She also like to say outside the

Chris <><http://www.blogger.com/profile/05571412799138708766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9858591.post-53538127670625520542008-05-29T16:49:00.002-05:002008-05-29T16:59:45.378-05:00

We leave for Panama on Monday morning. Things are kindof getting crazy around here! There are always last minute things to get together. That is just how these trips go. I am excited to see how our whole family does in another country together. I'm sure we will do fine, but someone mentioned on Sunday that Tyler is going to be walking when he gets back. That will probably be true! I never thought

Chris <><http://www.blogger.com/profile/05571412799138708766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9858591.post-46274783371613244132008-05-17T20:01:00.004-05:002008-05-17T20:53:27.652-05:00

Thanks to Doug Page for leading me to this page. It was good to take this personality test again. I think I scored the same before, but I'm not exactly sure. When I read the whole profile, it was pretty insightful into how I approached ministry! It is nice to know that I have a similar personality to people like Albert Eistein and Socrates. Interesting. Very interesting. Check it out. INTP -

Chris <><http://www.blogger.com/profile/05571412799138708766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9858591.post-35936274992115328392008-04-24T12:57:00.002-05:002008-04-24T12:59:15.992-05:00

I hope you enjoy our end-of-the-year video as much as I did putting it together. Later.

Chris <><http://www.blogger.com/profile/05571412799138708766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9858591.post-11056254786931366352008-04-12T07:14:00.005-05:002008-04-12T07:23:14.235-05:00

It is amazing how much we allow the TV to put our minds on pause. Sitting in a hotel recently, I was eating breakfast. One of the attendants was working below one of the cabinets when she accidently hit something that turned the TV off. It was funny to see the reactions of the people sitting in the area. Silence. They were kindof woken up from a sleep. They began looking around like what are we

Chris <><http://www.blogger.com/profile/05571412799138708766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9858591.post-89015683609435770982008-04-04T06:58:00.006-05:002008-04-07T10:47:31.941-05:00

When you watch a child play there will come a time when she will become bored. Her ideas for playing have reached a standstill. Usually, the child will walk around in a kindof daze looking for some idea, some new way of playing, something, anything. They might even come to their parents during this time. However, if left alone during that time (during that "boredom"), creativity will usually come

Chris <><http://www.blogger.com/profile/05571412799138708766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9858591.post-20935574702089041222008-04-03T06:58:00.004-05:002008-04-04T06:57:19.423-05:00

"Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her."It seems that wisdom accompanies silence. The Lord directs our hearts when we allow him to silently speak to us (if that is possible). Father, my words seem to come from a

Chris <><http://www.blogger.com/profile/05571412799138708766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9858591.post-70697752217630762362008-04-01T07:55:00.002-05:002008-04-02T08:34:47.050-05:00

"Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few." Ecclesiastes 5:1-2I heard (or read) somewhere recently that Jews expression of religion

Chris <><http://www.blogger.com/profile/05571412799138708766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9858591.post-32763274340714967272008-03-26T15:40:00.007-05:002008-04-02T07:10:03.216-05:00

"Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."When I was younger, golf was a fun sport. I loved the challenge. I enjoyed trying to hit the best possible shot. Getting up to the ball I would look toward my target with enthusiasm. Sometimes my shot would end up

Chris <><http://www.blogger.com/profile/05571412799138708766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9858591.post-7199661306319534902008-03-02T21:37:00.002-06:002008-03-02T21:46:58.018-06:00

I look back and see a string of activities stretching back to the beginning of the semester. It just all runs together. Discipleship meetings to class prep to website to coming home to dinner to baths to bed to another day filled with stuff. It all runs together. Here are some questions at the forefront of my mind: Does my time bring glory to God?Is there enough space in the margins of my life?

Chris <><http://www.blogger.com/profile/05571412799138708766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9858591.post-72795821710709576082008-01-18T06:32:00.002-06:002008-03-02T21:37:19.510-06:00

Mark begins his gospel like this:"It is written in Isaiah the prophet: 'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way' -- 'a voice of one calling the desert, "Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him."'I imagine someone yelling at the top of their lungs, "Prepare the way for the Lord!! Make way!! He's coming!! Make straight paths for him!! Prepare the way!!"

Chris <><http://www.blogger.com/profile/05571412799138708766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9858591.post-85305652669500642972008-01-15T09:32:00.000-06:002008-01-18T06:31:52.717-06:00

For Sunday college class this semester, I am wanting to focus on discussing video clips from various movies and TV shows. The impact on our younger generation is much more engaging. I love to think about the discussions that we will be having this year. Eventually, I would like to see students bringing clips from their movies that we can discuss. Please help us, Lord, to use discernment as we

Chris <><http://www.blogger.com/profile/05571412799138708766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9858591.post-1711750946141177942008-01-11T17:34:00.000-06:002008-01-12T09:25:54.033-06:00

So...it took me eleven days to write anything in 2008. I have enjoyed the break from the normal routine. I got to enjoy platefuls of food with family and friends. This year I didn't eat as much as I have in the past! Even during Thanksgiving I think I only got one full plate and then snacked a little later on. Christmas was the same. This year was not the year where I couldn't fit something else

Chris <><http://www.blogger.com/profile/05571412799138708766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9858591.post-48495829274722652052007-12-23T08:34:00.000-06:002007-12-23T08:43:07.999-06:00

It is good to relax with family. Historically, I have really gone into relax mode doing practically nothing, even getting upset when Tanya asks me to do something for her. That is not what Christ's sacrifice has called me to. This season I am going to go out of my way to help get things done. I am going to help with the cooking, cleaning, keeping up with kids, etc. Whatever needs to get done I am

Chris <><http://www.blogger.com/profile/05571412799138708766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9858591.post-76210469303638781362007-12-22T08:26:00.000-06:002007-12-22T08:32:19.236-06:00

Lord, please guide us in your presence as we travel. Let us constantly have you in our minds as we exchange gifts with friends and family. You are the reason that we feel compelled to give. Without your gift, we would not be able to truly live. Without your gift, we would not have hope for eternal life. Without your gift, we would not be empowered with the Holy Spirit to give ourselves. Thank you

Chris <><http://www.blogger.com/profile/05571412799138708766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9858591.post-38379741325544081402007-12-21T08:33:00.000-06:002007-12-21T08:00:01.689-06:00

Spending some time going through Luke, I noticed a greek word at the beginning of the book: kairos. It is usually translated "time," meaning a specific time period rather than just a general reference to time (aka "appointed time," "proper time," "favorable time," "this season"). ["Chronos" is the word for a general reference to time.] Kairos carries with it the notion of a moment or period that

Chris <><http://www.blogger.com/profile/05571412799138708766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9858591.post-65620830031352236162007-12-19T08:57:00.000-06:002007-12-20T08:33:18.429-06:00

Yesterday I went to the Courthouse to get Tyler's birth certificate. We finally needed it to get his Passport. I can't believe that it cost $22 to get a certified copy of his birth certificate! What if I didn't have the money to buy a loaf of bread? But, if I needed to show someone that my son was actually born like I said he was, I would have to pay $22! This is crazy. I don't know what to

Chris <><http://www.blogger.com/profile/05571412799138708766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9858591.post-12841372871243672742007-12-18T13:42:00.000-06:002007-12-18T13:56:37.213-06:00

Our congregation is beginning the actual process of meeting in smaller groups of people throughout the town on Sunday evenings. I absolutely love that we are moving in this direction. It reflects a way of thinking that is similar to that of the early Christians. It also helps us move outside of the church walls. As I talk to more and more people in our congregation about this move our elders have

Chris <><http://www.blogger.com/profile/05571412799138708766noreply@blogger.com