Jim The Youth Guy

For Sandra

2010-07-18T16:34:00.000-07:00

Sandra works in the hotel restaurant. She says very little outside of “good morning,” “are you finished,” or “would you like …”. She is here before our 7am breakfast and after our 7pm dinner. She is always pleasant and industrious. She makes every effort to extend every courtesy. As I sat watching her precisely lay out the silverware for breakfast, I wondered, “does she go home to one of these tin shacks we pass on the way to and from our work sites?” Does she so diligently and patiently serve me as I live in a manner she will never experience?

I Must Never Lose Sight
What God spoke to me through Sandra.

I must never lose sight of how blessed I am.
It is humbling to see my plenty through the want of others.

What strange flood of God’s love entitles me to such abundance?
That he would shower me with such blessings is incomprehensible.
His love poured out on me overflows the banks of my life.

I have, yet am never satisfied.
I see; I want more.
I devour and consume without thought.
There’s never enough.
I remain a most ungrateful child.
My want is unquenched.
I am blind when I look at myself.

Solomon wrote wisely, “all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. “
The things I have are meaningless in the desert of my self.

Yet he continues to shower me with overflowing provision.
Behold what manner of love the father has given unto me …

I must never lose sight of how blessed I am.
It is humbling.

La Casita de Glendi

2010-07-17T11:07:00.000-07:00

We finished Glendi’s house yesterday. Three days ago, I would have called it a tool shed. To Glendi it is a virtual palace.

She had been living in a 10X20 shack with her sister with a combined 7 children. Now she and her three children will move into their own 14X20 home! She was overwhelmed at the dedication, speaking of a new home for her children and the difference it would make in their lives. She asked for God’s blessing on the young men that built it, on their families, their parents specifically and on their churches.

Moms and dads, you would have been proud. You got a lot of credit from Glendi and Aurli, the head woman of the little village. Both recognized how wonderful the parents of these young men must be!

Another benefit of the guys’ work was the influence it had on the children. In a little neighborhood of about fifteen homes, there were only a couple of men. The kids hung on all of the guys and vied for their attention constantly. They were able to see young men work hard, do something of value to contribute to the life of the community and play with and love them.

Mission trip, $1220. Glendi’s home, $1200. Impact on our lives, priceless.

In the Morning

2010-07-16T05:43:00.000-07:00

Up a little early this morning. About to go see if there is some coffee ready. Ian asked yesterday, at the end of the devotions he led in the morning, "How do you see God's love for you?" I don't think any of us answered that question. We talked about how we were moved by what we saw and experienced. Several people mentioned being grateful for our 'stuff' when we see how others live. We were even awed at being able to serve as Jesus' hands and feet to touch these lives for this small place in time. But, I don't recall anyone saying how they saw God's love demonstrated for them personally.
For me, I think it is in be allowed to work with God. To be there when he does his "thing'. To even contribute some small part to his work. To be a part of God's working, God's 'interfering' in the lives of men, women and children.
My dad did that for me. He let me work with him even when it made things take twice as long to get them done. Even when it meant he would have to go back a redo everything I had done.
God's an awesome dad. He lets me learn by watching him work. He lets me learn by trying things out. He lets me learn by messing things up. And he's always there with the 'great job' and 'I love you' even when I get it wrong.
How does he show you love?

Homesite

2010-07-15T20:32:00.000-07:00

The guys went to build a house today. It will be what we would call a 20'X14' tin shed.
We laid the foundation and poured the floor today. Tomorrow we will complete it.
Everything is done by hand. We dug the foundation, laid block, laid in re-bar, poured the foundation, leveled the floor, mixed concrete and poured the floor. Hard, but gratifying work.
The family is so appreciative and the kids are a riot. We have yet to learn their names. When we ask them, they reel off a list of a dozen names every time and it is impossible to determine just what exactly is their first name.
The material cost for the house and an efficient wood burning stove is about $1200. We think that is a doable number. Who's up for the next trip?!?

Guatemala - Day 1 - Travel

2010-07-14T20:26:00.000-07:00

Everyone arrived early - ready to go! We had no difficulty getting to Miami. The airport stay was tolerable (aided by a fast paced game of "peanut"). In fact, God smiled on us. The departure gate was comfortably nestled between a Starbuck's and the restrooms. It doesn't get any better than that.
We flew TACA airlines. It was in a very nice Embraer 190 (Brasilian jet). It was the first flight I have been on in the last 20 years where we were served real food and had our choice of in-flight movies or tv shows on a personal screen. The service was fantastic - the way it used to be years ago on US planes before everyone started their "cost saving".
The skyline was beautiful. There was so much color use in their architecture. The high rises were often two-tone with bright colored accents. Really very attractive.
The airport was clean and modern and we had no trouble at all through customs.
Guatemala City was incredibly crowded. The streets were packed. You could reach out the bus window and touch the other vehicles. The trip to Antigua was tedious through all of the traffic.
Antigua is an old, old city. The streets are real cobble stone (serious ankle turners). They are narrow with shops lining the road on both sides. It is very much like old St Augustine (only 10 times the size).
The Hotel Plaza Real lived up to their website. It is absolutely stunning. The staff is incredibly accommodating. Our rooms are very nice and the grounds are beautifully kept with walkways, gardens and fountains.
This is the first trip in many years that Laura and I have a room together. It's always been rooming with the guys or girls. Very nice for a change.

Traveling

2010-07-12T20:11:00.000-07:00

I've spent a lot of time traveling in the last few weeks. Last week we (the whole family) was in Cincinnati for a wedding. I was officiating and the rest were along for the "family reunion". We had lots of adventures on the way and it didn't really matter when things didn't work out the way we wanted them to - we were together and we made it fun!
My journey with God is often like that. It often doesn't turn out the way I think it should, but it is always a fun adventure when I remember that God and I are together. Many times I find that he works things out to better than I could even imagine! So many times, he turns my "inconvenience" into something incredible.
Where you go and how you get there is far less important than who you go with!!

Parachutes

2008-03-27T04:56:00.001-07:00

I haven't done anything like this for years. It started with plastic easter eggs with parachutes which sorta worked a couple of times. When those quit working, it moved on to bandanas and string tied to the eggs or action figures. Good, clean fun for about an hour.

New Members of the Family

2008-03-27T04:51:00.001-07:00

It's been years since we had dogs. It took forever for the cat to die, so we were finally free. Go where we want, do what we want, don't have to arrange for someone to watch the dog, feed the dog, don't have to be home to let the dog out... now that's all gone... Of course they belong to the kids who do most of the feeding, walking, grooming, etc., but just enough of it spills over to make life just a little more hectic.
Even so, they are family now. You get used to it after a while - like that constant ache in my left shoulder.

Easter Son Risen Service - part 1

2008-03-27T04:46:00.001-07:00

Christ is risen. Easter message.

Easter Son Risen Service - part 2

2008-03-27T04:45:00.001-07:00

Christ is risen. Part 2 of Easter Sunday message

Maundy Thursday, 2008

2008-03-22T11:38:00.000-07:00

Bringing new life to old traditions. A different look at offering ourselves as a living sacrifice.

Rhythm Sermon Part 4

2008-01-01T04:46:00.003-08:00

Part 4 of 4 - July, 2007

Rhythm Sermon Part 3

2008-01-01T04:46:00.001-08:00

Part 3 of 4 - July, 2007

Rhythm Sermon Part 2

2008-01-01T04:45:00.001-08:00

Part 2 of 4 July, 2007

Rhythm Sermon Part1

2008-01-01T04:44:00.001-08:00

July, 2007 Sermon - Rhythm - Finding rhythm or balance with God, Yourself and Others

Margin Sermon Part 4

2007-12-31T18:01:00.001-08:00

Part 4 of 4 - December 30,2007 sermon.

Margins Sermon Part 3

2007-12-31T18:00:00.001-08:00

Part 3 of 4 - December 30, 2007 Sermon

Margins Sermon Part 2

2007-12-31T17:55:00.001-08:00

Part 2 of 4 - December 30, 2007 sermon.

Margins Sermon Part 1

2007-12-31T17:54:00.001-08:00

Sermon December 30, 2007 - REAL Life Is Lived in the Margins. Our ability to live a meaningful life, one that influences the world we live in, is hampered by our overbooked, overscheduled lives, our physical and emotional exhaustion and our financial bondage. It is possible to live a REAL life that matters.