Just a Pane

Just a pane separated us from him.

We were on the inside and he was on the outside. I’m not even sure why I noticed him. In the midst of enjoying lunch with Kelsey and Drew at HardRock Cafe, something about the form on the other side of the window drew my attention. It wasn’t his face as his back was turned toward us. It was something about his posture. A posture that seemed to say, “I’m beat down, I’m tired, I don’t have a place to be.”

Just a pane separated us from him.

I don’t think he was aware of us. His back was to us and he seemed to be staring straight ahead – out at the street from where he had just come. He was sitting at a table by himself, slowly sipping a drink through a straw – something that looked like Mountain Dew. Through the glass and the slats in the blinds I could see a few days growth of a beard. He sat with his head held slightly to the left. A slight slump defined his spine. It seemed he was trying to make his drink last as long as possible.

Just a pane separated us from him.

I never saw him served. I don’t know how he got his drink. I did see him get up and leave. He left no money and just walked into the street as if this was part of his normal routine. He wandered a ½ block, looked in a couple windows, then paused outside the entrance to a building. It seemed as if he was trying to decide if it was worth it to go in. As if some choice was being made. I don’t know if the other side of the door held the possibility for good or evil. For the hope of a kindness shared or the lure of an addiction. He made a choice and entered.

Just a pane separated us from him.

Lives so different. My life of being on “the inside” – a life of comfort, family and friends. His life on “the outside” – relying on resources to be provided, alone, tired. My life of hope….his life of despair. Separated by just a pane of glass.

Lord, forgive me for just looking through the glass and accepting that as normal. Help me look for opportunities and ways to shatter the glass – and then look into the eyes of the person on the other side, reach out, and spend time with them and serve them. Help me be more like Jesus…..and less like myself.

Isn't it ironic.....

that I spilled food on my 30 hour famine T-shirt today at lunch.

Hangin' out with 7 y.o.'s

I spent the majority of the day hangin' out with my son, Alexey, and his best friend Peter. I decided early in the day not to worry about "to do" lists, house chores, planning ahead, or youth ministry stuff. Just to hang out and be available - it was a fabulous day.

Started with Subway sandwiches we took to the park. Playing tag/chase/run around the play structure. Sitting and eating and speaking on topics that fascinate 7 y.o.'s - bodily functions/noises, sports, video games, what's cool.....

Then hangin' at the house - okay, I admit it, I napped while they played some Harry Potter computer games.

Then off to a lake for some fishing - everyone caught a fish! Gentle exploring and story telling of other fishing adventures.

Back home for a bonfire, hotdogs, pasta salad - and then watching "Treasure Hunter" while wrestling, playing indoor soccer, etc. Time for smores and watching the fire...then finally showers and bed.

What a cool day.

Mexico Day 4 - Vision

Another day covered in dust begins. Again I awake for a morning walk. I notice a horse in a nearby field. The roosters are crowing as always. I notice the “watchers”. People that stay up all night to watch the camp and keep us safe. I don’t speak to them but thank them in my prayers. Again – I spend time listening for God as I hear my footsteps on the gravel/dirt. I am aware of Him…a good start to the day.

Once again the morning routine of waking up the family, breakfast, packing lunches, and filling water bottles. The “youth” sleeping around the campfire is growing – up to about 9 now.

Off to the worksites. I am SO glad we don’t have to mix concrete today! On the way to the sites we pass many dead dogs along side the road. One of the groups starts calling them “piñatas”.

We arrive and the foundation we poured yesterday is almost dry. Today we will be putting up the frame of the house and the roof. WooHoo. We have three walls already done so we start putting together the other 4 or so. It seems to be going quickly – lots of hammering, sawing, nailing. The kids are playing soccer in the street, helping with holding down the tape measure, playing with spare wood blocks, and not complaining.

We start putting up the walls – and suddenly it feels like we are accomplishing something. Maybe it is because I can start to see what the home will look like. Yesterday seemed like a lot of work and little to show for it. Now, with a firm foundation and a couple of walls I can see the vision of what the house will look like when it is finished.

We finish the framing with few problems. Our structure is square and level, the walls almost perfectly horizontal, and we hang a door without too much difficulty. The day is cruising along. Some things I notice along the way – Eric asks me how he can help, can he saw, where should he nail? Eric is going into 7th grade. His perseverance and servant heart humbles me. When he asks me if he can saw a board, my first thought is “it is going to take longer than I want it too!” *sigh* But grace and patience win out – and he makes a fine cut on a two by four – and his smile is well worth the wait. I see my own family members – Kelsey, Kimpa, Alexey, and Drew – working so hard and not complaining. I love my family so much and have found over the years that we are always stronger together than individually. It is a very cool gift that we are here together, serving within this family of faith, in this place, during these days. They have all made sacrifices to be here (from soccer, work, social stuff) – and my prayer is that they are each encountering God in His time and mysterious ways during this trip – and they are moved to becoming more like Him.

We finish putting the plywood on the roof and get some bailing wire around the house. It is about 6:30 and it has been a good day. Back at camp the usual – dinner, showers, worship with sharing of “God sightings”, some conversation around the campfire and off too bed. From foundation to vision – there is something to learn from this day…but I’m a little too tired to put it all together….but God will work it out in my dreams – because He never sleeps.

Mexico Day 3 - I am not alone

I wake up early, again. The night was actually very cool and there is still a chill in the air. I walk around the camp. Having been removed from most of my normal routine and comforts of home I notice that I have quickly developed “camp equipment envy”. From lighting, to nicer tents, and in particular nicer camp chairs (we have some plastic chairs, many of which collapse under my weight….is it the chair or me…..and lots of benches) I find much to be envious of. *sigh* Not a great way to start the day…..I take some comfort in the fact that at least I recognize it for what it is – sin. I take some time to just sit, pray, ask God to continue to strip me of all that I have brought that isn’t of Him – envy and all the other sins that strive to cling to my heart and mind. Sitting and listening I hear – roosters crowing and am reminded of Peter’s denial of Christ (but there is so much crowing I chuckle that it must not have taken long for the roosters to crow three times!) I also hear moments of quiet (how one actually “hears” a moment of quiet I’m not sure, but that is what comes to mind)……..moments that I listen closely for God. And I do feel His presence and am hopeful of what the day ahead will bring.

Our camp starts to stir. There are seven Jr./Sr. High youth that slept around the fire outside….how cool is that? I help get Alexey up and going. Packing up the sleeping bags so there is room to move in the tent, digging for clothes, locating toothbrushes, and finding shoes. Kimpa is in a good mood as is Alexey. We walk to breakfast and have scrambled eggs, bacon, cereal, etc. Then we pack a lunch, load up the water bottles, put on the sun screen, check that we all have hats and…….wait. While we wait Alexey and his buddy Peter run around and play various games. My parent instinct wants to tell him to stop, he is going to get dirty. But everything is dirty here – and luckily I remain silent. I wonder if Alexey has noticed how different his surroundings are – or is he just glad to have his best friend here and be playing a game. I think there is much less that needs to be stripped away from children and they are much closer to being the image of God (Eikons) that he originally created us in than most adults. What changes….what has changed in me?

Eventually we load up and take the crazy 45 minute drive to our worksite. Driving in Mexico is a story unto itself. We meet the family at our worksite. Mom/Dad and 4 kids – the oldest a 12 y.o. girl and youngest is a 3 y.o. boy. Kels, Michelle, and Katie are our best Spanish speakers so they do their best to greet/intro all of us and then talk to the family about where they would like their new home, the placement of the two windows and the door. They have a previous Amor built home but it is about 2 feet below the level of the space where the home we will build goes. We decide to pour a 24 foot slab so that the homes have a cement breezeway of sorts between them. We are anxious to get started.

As the “work” begins I start to notice that I am not alone. It seems strange to type that sentence even. Up until this point, most of my thoughts and observations have been about me. My experience, my perspective, how things are effecting me and my relationship with God….pretty much at the exclusion of others. But as the work begins, I see that I am in a community. I am just one piece of the puzzle and a part of the story that God is unfolding over the next four days. My gifts are limited, finite but essential……just as everyone else’s are. And as I see my limits, and there are many, I see the gifts of others blossom.

The goal for the day is to get the foundation poured. Sounds simple. But the sight has to be clear of debris, level, a frame made, and then….there is the mixing, pouring, smoothing of the cement. YIKES! Having virtually no construction experience I didn’t know what was coming. Around 2 in the afternoon we start mixing pouring cement. The first “tub” we mix and pour fills about a 1X2 foot square and seeing the small space it covers in our frame…..I am depressed. It is obvious we are in for a long afternoon. We struggle with the process for about 90 minutes but then we start to hit our rhythm as a team – somehow we have been sifted and sorted using our talents to maximum ability and we really start to have a nice flow of mixing, pouring, smoothing. Most of the team is involved in this process but a few of them are working on walls for the next day. Things are clicking – a hint of what I think living in rhythm with God must be like. Using your gifts to the max, working/living in community, serving others, and in the process somehow reconciling yourself, your relationship with God, others and the world all at the same time. Awesome!

By 6:30 the foundation is poured, we have 2-3 walls built, and we are tired….but content.
The best part of the day is as we leave the sight, the mom of the family peaks out, sees the foundation, her face is glowing, she is smiling, and she is clapping. Building a strong foundation leads to joy…….

Back at camp we eat, shower (such as it is), gather for worship and sharing, and then go to bed. It’s been a very long day, a day that deserves some reflection, but I am too tired to think and am just content at having finished the day well, knowing that God is listening, He is still stripping away baggage, that I am surrounded by others who will help carry me through and glad to be in this community of faith – not perfect – but accepted, growing, and transforming.

Did my son just say Iowa?

Alexey: "Can we go to Iowa for spring break this year?"
Family: "Why would we go to Iowa for spring break? (Said with GREAT dismay!)
Alexey: "Because they have really big corn there!"


Where have I gone wrong........I immediately started singing the Univ of Illinois fight song to help get rid of the evil Iowa spirits that had taken over my son.

Mexico Day 2 - Strip Searched

I got almost no sleep last night. Between listening to the voices outside my window (and in my head?) and the anticipation of crossing into Mexico there wasn’t much rest. About 5:30 a.m. I hear “Dave, are you up?” My buddy Mitch and I knew neither of us would sleep so we agreed to get up early and take a hike. Of we go…..

Some of the highlights of the hike – Lush green colors, palm trees, ocean views, a sculpture of Jesus calling Peter, a baseball field on the ocean, trails/crevasses that lead to the beach, surfers, ocean “flies”, watching the surf, exploring a “homeless” cave, the smell of the ocean, a mountain bike path……..time, space, and conversation. Among the beauty we also see lots of trash, garbage, and a porn magazine……..a mix of beauty and ugliness that reminds me of our nature of being cracked Eikons.

The day begins as we return to the dorms – getting everyone up, the last real shower for awhile, walking to breakfast, packing up the vans, cleaning the rooms, getting footballs off of the roofs (twice!) and then gathering for worship.

Worship – in an outdoor amphitheater, with a community I love, and I feel alone. We took time to write down what our expectations for the coming days were. I am at a loss really – I put down generic stuff – to see God working, building of relationships, blah, blah, blah…..i don’t feel very engaged at the moment. Highlights of the morning was a very cool “Father’s Day” gift – a couple of the mom’s had put together a special song to the tune of “Day’s of Elijah” that the kid’s sang to us dad’s….how fun! And communion was a good start – even tho I feel separated at the moment, I am reminded that God is present and is inviting me to take note of His presence in the moments of the day.

Then – a final search for a pop machine that has diet coke, a final trip to a “real” bathroom, and off to the border.

We cross without incident. One van is pulled over but is soon allowed to continue – and then we are in Mexico. The change is almost instant and dramatic. A difference of 40 miles means the difference between wealth and poverty, lush greens and packed dirt, nice homes and shacks made of whatever a person can find, paved roads and rutted dirt paths, structure and chaos, English and Spanish, hope and ??. A question comes to my mind. Is there hope here in Mexico? What do the people hope for? I know we feel like we are bringing hope – but it has to be here already doesn’t it? Do the people see it? Do I see it? Will we be cultivating it, discovering it, sowing it, leaving it, or is it not really here? It has to be here – dust covered and dirty – but present….right?


We arrive at our camp. How quickly our accommodations have changed. We move into a tent city – five people and their luggage crammed into a “five person tent” which of course means there is comfortable room for three. Dust everywhere and it is hot. We unpack the vans (I’m looking forward to not having to pack/unpack the vans for a few days!) and move to our tents. There is excitement and tension in the group. We have arrived but most of us don’t know what to do. Of course the men start to organize the tools. Lots of the kids start to run around, explore, play in the dirt. I wander between tasks of getting our luggage to the tent, some basic set up (with Kimpa’s approval!), help with the tools some, get some water, make sure Alexey is safe, wonder how we are going to ever get to sleep tonight in this tent…….and what tomorrow holds.

The phrase “strip searched” enters my mind. I remember at the airport making the usual jokes about security and the chance (hope?) that someone in our group may be strip searched. I remember Kimpa commenting at some point that nothing is routine, or that there is no normal in the schedule. That all starts to simmer……and I start to feel like I am being “strip searched” by God. That all of the things I have grown dependent upon and used to are being taken away: air conditioning, flush toilets, microwaves, my own transportation, solid walls, a nice bed, my own space, an independent schedule, knowing what is happening next, a skill set that matches up with what I do, control…..basically all of the “me” I have spent so long creating isn’t very useful and has no control over my situation. I realize that over the next few days I am going to be dependent upon God and the people around me to get through whatever is going to happen. And because of that – I will discover if I really am relying upon God for my strength. Do I love God with all of my heart, soul, mind, strength……because I am about to be stripped to the very core and find out. I am scared, not because I don’t know the answer, but because I do.

The evening progresses with dinner - burgers and dogs, worship, hanging around the campfire, and then trying to get to sleep. But sleep will be hard to find - as God listens, searches, and strips away.

Mexico Day 1 - God is listening

70 people ranging in age from 7 to 70. I was told it was going to be “hurry up and wait” and it is true. We arrive at MSP airport and “wait” – for everyone to gather, to unload luggage, to check-in, to go thru security, and then to board the plane. There are a few soccer fanatics, my 14 y.o. son Drew being one of them, and they start watching world cup soccer in the local bar. The younger kids and a few of their “80’s” parents are in the arcade playing Galaga and various racing games.

During this waiting I start wondering what the days ahead will be like. My first “fear” is how my body will hold up physically. My back bugs me pretty bad at night and I haven’t worked really hard in……way too long.

Other questions swirl in the milieu of my mind. What will the people at our worksite be like? What will their community look like? How will we talk as I don’t know a bit of Spanish? Do you really have to check your shoes for scorpions in the morning?

Our flight is good. Gotta love soggy grilled cheese sandwiches at 30,000 feet. Everyone is excited to arrive – I believe there was applause on the landing….kids are too much fun!

More hurry up and wait – pile all the luggage, wait for the vans to arrive, notice people starting to sort themselves and worry who is going to ride with whom. Jody teaches the younger kids some basic games you can play with a few coins and a wall outside the airport. Adults worry about organizing and is everyone safe. Teens worry about where they are going to sit on the vans. Grade school kids just run around and play – interrupting everyone else’s worrying……

We load up – I get to co-pilot a van. Of course that means we take a wrong turn but eventually end up at Point Loma Nazarene College. More waiting – unloading luggage, room assignments, making sure I know where my kids rooms are and what room my wife is in. I was in a room with Alexey but he ditches me to sleep with his buddy Peter so I have a room to myself – perfect for the introvert that I am!

Pizza for dinner, some time to wander – you can see the ocean but we can’t get down to it from where we are. We spend time in worship – Steve leads us in songs….he has grown in being a worship leader so much this past year. We pray and John shares some with us.

Expectations start to surface and more questions……what is about to happen, how will it effect me, will I remain unchanged – do I want to change, am I hoping something in me changes?

I’m tired. As I lay down to go to sleep in my dorm room I have the window open. It opens into the courtyard where all of our rooms are. I can hear a student moving outside to sleep. I hear others talking – I love listening to students talk, especially when they don’t know you are listening. They say such amazing things and the way they relate to each other is always fascinating. As I lie there, listening, it fills me with joy. I don’t sleep much…..it is too much fun listening to the voices, the ocean, the sounds outside my window.

I have to think that God gets even more pleasure as He is watching and listening over His creation and we are behaving as if God isn’t listening, looking, yearning for us. (For the moment I’m going to ignore the fact that so much of what we say and do breaks God’s heart – and focus on the joy He must get when we are in relationship with each other…..created in Hi image…..and the joy he gets in listening/loving on His creation.) I can picture Him in some way – smiling over us as we talk and finally drift off to sleep. And I am comforted knowing that He is there – whether I am awake, asleep, tired, rested, scared, joyful – he is always with me, and I know I will need to rely on Him in the days ahead. But for now – I go to sleep……taking joy in the voices I hear…..and thinking now that I am hearing God through them.

Mexico Musings

I was part of a mission team from our church that built homes for people in need. I am going to try to process some of what I experienced over the next few days. I thought I'd start with a general overview of the experience.


Our church in Minnesota sent a team of 70 people (almost a quarter of our congregation!) to Mexico to work with Amor Ministries and built 4 homes for families in need inTijuana. Our team was a combination of families, youth, and singles. The youngest participant was my son Alexey - age 7 - and the oldest participant was over 70. We had 21 Jr/Sr high youth from our youth group that partici

pated either with their family or as individuals.

Our itinerary:

Left Saturday afternoon and arrived in San Diego. Stayed at Point Loma Nazerene College.
Sunday - packed up and crossed the border into Mexico.
Monday - Hit the work site, met our family, poured the foundation for the home we will build.
Tuesday - Framing and put on the roof.
Wednesday - Tar/Shingle the roof. Wire, paper, chicken wire the walls, and first coat of stucco.
Thursday - Final coat of stucco and then do a blessing of the home/family as we present the house to them!
Friday - Return to San Diego, Point Loma College and hang out.
Saturday - Play day in San Diego and then head to the airport....arriving in Minneapolis at Midnight.
Arrive home........1 am.

The homes we built were approximately 11X22 ft. Two rooms, two windows, a door and a cement floor. Not as big as the garage on my home......

General observations - the trip defied expectations. The descriptions of the trip from people that had gone before were good - but didn't come close to what it is like to go in person. I have never worked harder and been challenged physically, emotionally, and spiritually this much in my life.

Over the next few days I hope to describe and share some of what I experienced.....and encourage you to explore serving in this way at some point in your future. It was amazing.

You can tell Mom's out of town.....

because Alexey asked me today, "How do babies get out of a mom's stomach?"

It seems that I get asked all these great questions when Mom is unavailable for consult!

Of course since Mom isn't available, it lets me use that great "think of it as a bowling ball growing up inside a balloon and then having to push it out" analogy.....*smile*

Gentle Moments

Sometimes, I love not being a youth leader.

Less than a week ago I was in Mexico. I was just one of 70 people whom God called to go and build homes for people in need. In preparing for the trip, I decided that my main responsibility should be to my family - and not as a “youth leader”. So my buddy Steve offered to take on the main job of being “the guy” who was responsible for being available to the 21 students that participated in the trip. First, let me say Steve did an incredible job. Not only did he build homes but he led worship, helped with devotionals and messages in the evenings, and graciously shared his shower bag with me. Thanks, Steve!

Because of Steve’s presence, I was able to just observe our awesome youth. I wasn’t distracted by worrying about what’s happening next or taking a head count. I was able to sit back and had the privilege of seeing what I eventually called “gentle moments”. I’d like to share a few of them with you.

· 7 students sleeping outside around the campfire the first night.
· Jr./Sr. high students sharing with everyone their “God sightings”.
· An 11th grader teaming up with a 7 y.o. in a card game.
· A 7th grader inviting a 6th grader to join “the gang” sleeping outside around the campfire.
· Sr. High students helping teach the 6th graders the motions to some of the worship songs we sang at night.
· Jr./Sr. high students holding Mexican children in their arms, playing games, hugging them, and sharing Christ’s love in amazing ways.
· 11 students sleeping outside around the campfire the third night.
· Students hammering, sawing, and working harder than I could ever imagine – while smiling and encouraging one another.
· Students inviting the children of the families we are serving to join them during lunch.
· 22 students sleeping outside around the campfire the third night.
· The list goes on and on and on……

The trip was rich in experiences and challenging in ways I could not have imagined. I still have a lot of processing to do about my own personal experience. But for now, I am just grateful for not being a youth leader on the trip – and being allowed to see God’s fingerprints all over our students and the impressions they left on my heart and the hearts of others…….in so many gentle moments.

Enjoy the Silence

Not that I keep this thing that current anyway - but for the 2 of you that do happen by here....

I will be traveling to Mexico with about 70 other people - building four homes for people in need. So I will be out of the blogosphere for about a week. Looking forward to sharing my adventure upon my return.

Until then - Enjoy the Silence.

Contrast and Conviction

I spent last weekend helping my parents move into their new home. They are living in Daniel Island, SC just outside of Charleston. It is a community that has been built in the last 10 years.
It is amazing. Million dollar homes, private golf community, world class tennis stadium, walking/biking trails, wonderful restaurants, a large Catholic High School, amazing parks, etc.

As I walked along the streets and paths my thoughts turned to the fact that in one week I would be in Mexico - working along side 70 other people from our church building 4 homes for families that have almost nothing. Other than the website for Amor ministries, I really don't know what to expect. Shelters with dirt floors, no running water or electricity - I have not actually been there before so I'm sure even my "expectations" of the conditions aren't close to accurate.

Traveling from such abundance to a place that struggles with just existing will be hard.

The contrast is going to be beyond my ability to express it.

Both communities are filled with people in need of restoration with God, self, others, and the world.

Of course, I don't have to look too far to remember that I live in abundance/luxury......

I pray that I am using my resources wisely - financial, personal, time, energy - to God's glory.

Speak to me, God. And use next week to open my eyes to whatever you want me to see.....

Over exposure

My parents just moved to Charleston, SC. I sure hope this guy wasn't part of the "welcome wagon" team.

This of course would never happen in MN as it is either way to cold or there are way to many mosquito's - one wouldn't want to "expose" oneself to the environment!

(ht marko)

Embracing Grace

I just finished reading Scot McKnight's book Embracing Grace. Other than the Bible, it may be the most formative book for me regarding how I look at "the Gospel". It resonated strongly with me - providing insight into many of the questions and frustrations I have had with how I percieve my relationship with God, myself, others and the world.

Having just finished the book it is still simmering. I can hardly wait to read it again. I am not going to try to present it in summary here. But here are some of the phrases that are rolling around in my head.

Eikons of God
A story interuppted
Cracked Eikons
Restoration with God, myself, others, and world
Exclusion vs. embrace
looking, listening, learning, linking
A missional Gospel
Individualism vs. community

Great stuff.....God stuff.....I encourage you to read it, ponder it, and I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Thouhgt expansion

Have you ever read a book and in the process actually felt your thoughts and ideas being expanded and stretched? It happens rarely for me. Not because I’m brilliant and have it all figured out – as if no one can add to my thoughts. No, rather it is because at heart I’m a “lazy” reader. I read too fast and don’t ponder or pursue ideas that are presented. Also, I know that within a few days most of what I have read will be forgotten. This needs to change. My laziness is keeping me from really soaking up the bible (and other great stories and people) – letting it simmer in my mind, heart, and soul. Thus keeping me from loving God with all of my strength.

Lectio Divina, centering prayer, fasting…….just a few of the disciplines I am finding more and more intriguing. And at first glance – all have to do with creating space in the day God has given me. Space for quiet solitude with Him. Opportunities to take note of His plan for me. Taking time to listen, look, learn, and link up with Him and His process of restoring my relationship with Him, myself, others and the world. (thanks to Scot McKnight, author of “Embracing Grace”, for those four “L’s” and the expansion of my thoughts on restoration.)

I need to share this with a person (whoever is reading this, I am grateful, but I need someone to ask me how I’m doing in taking the time to work on restoring my relationship with God, myself, others and the world – you are welcome to do this thru comments tho!). I need to enter into some serious truth telling…...and it should start now.

Daniel Island

I'm off to Daniel Island, SC for a few days. I'll be helping my Dad and his wife unpack as they move into their new home. (Don't we all wish we could retire here?) Looking forward to a few days of just working hard and not thinking too much.......

What are your weekend adventures going to be?

Boy toys

To any of my family members - here is what I want for Father's Day!

It's a bird....it's a plane....no it's ?????

Cheap Motel

Phone conversations you don't think you will have with your daughter.....

"Hey, Mom. Is Kelsey there?"
"No"
"I wanted her to google something for me"
"I can do that"
"Ummm, okay - I'm in Durango with some friends and we're looking for a cheap motel to spend the night."

NOT the conversation you are expecting when you haven't heard from your 20 y.o. daughter for a week or so.....while she is away working at a dude ranch!

(They ended up sleeping on some boulders that night....even better! *AAAHHH*

A graduation blessing....

Just an adapted verse that I shared with our graduates this last Sunday....

But you, Kathryn, Alex, Brittany, Libby, Makenna, and Abby, children of God....Pursue a righteous life - a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses

.....Go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage - do good, be rich in helping others, be extravagantly generous. If you do that, you'll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.May overwhelming grace keep you! (1 Timothy 6:11-21 - personalized and edited for the occasion)