Tonsilectomy

We found out today that Carsen has to have his tonsils removed. The doctor said his tonsils are so way too big for his throat that it is kinda like he has a bowling ball in his throat. He goes under the knife this Friday morning. We have to be at the hospital at 6:30am and they will put him to sleep and then 30 minutes later or less, he will no longer have tonsils or adenoids. This is a whole new part of parenting. When I was a kid I always wanted to have my tonsils out so I could eat ice cream and jello all day for a while. It doesn't seem quite so exciting and fun when it's my kid instead of me. We have to completely let go and trust someone else to give him anesthesia and make things all better. The goal is that it will allow him to start eating better and get rid of his snoring at night.

Yeah for Monday!!!!!

Someone in my church just gave me a Fender Stratocaster and a Vox Cambridge 15 amp. Them's good times. Pics to follow...

Busy Week

It's been a crazy week with a team of 50 students from Two Rivers Church in Tennessee staying at our church and doing ministry out on the reservation. This morning I took a bunch of them caving and we had a great time. They built a building for a couple on the rez to use as a church, ran a VBS and built the kids at our church a new swing set. It has been great spending time with them and seeing them serve God. My parents were also here all last week and part of this week and we had a great time seeing them and working on our house. And now, some pictures:











































A fun new sand box from Grandma and Grandpa
















The kids enjoying the new swing set at church

Dad

My dad announced last week that he is resigning from the church where he is the worship pastor in the middle of August. At this time he is not planning on continuing in pastoral ministry. It is weird to think that my brother, sister and I will no longer be pk's. My dad has been a pastor (and had his beard) since before I was born. Through growing up as a pk I really appreciated my dad making time to be at my events and also not putting too much pressure on us kids to be certain stereotypes or anything. Even though "I love you" was not a normal part of our conversations (especially in jr and sr high) I always knew I was more important than my dads job and that he did love me. As a church employee and dad, I hope my kids can someday enter adulthood with as much respect and love for me and my ministry as I have for my dad. Whatever he ends up doing, I'm excited for him and this new part of life that my parents are entering into. Oh, and not only was he a good dad, but he pretty much has the grandpa thing down, to:

And dad, while things are changing, I have never seen you without a beard! Just think about it:-)

Rose Bushes and Bad Soil

Yesterday my wife and I took a trip over to the local greenhouse to look at flowers and see our friend Griff. After much looking and deciding, my wife decided we should buy a couple rose bushes to put in the planter behind our house, as well as a few other nice flowery plants. When we got home it was decided that she would go to school and spend some time preparing for this next school year, and I would plant our new purchases. So, I went and got the shovel and shoved it into the ground to start digging my hole. The problem was that after the first 4 or 5 inches, our nice soil became rocky, hard to dig through soil. There was about a foot of this soil and it took me a little over an hour to dig my two small holes. As I dug I realized I needed to replace the bad soil with good soil, otherwise our plants were going to have a hard time keeping any water near their roots. I went and bought some good soil to fill in the holes and planted the roses and now hopefully we can keep them growing (and not have to plant any more large things in that overly rocky area).

It all reminded me of the parable of the sower that Jesus tells in Matthew 13. We have to be asking God for opportunities to introduce people to Jesus who are ready to hear about him. We also need to be making sure our own hearts and minds are staying healthy and open to God and his leading.
Some of our new flowers:

Live for Jesus

The theme this year at camp was "Live for Jesus and don't turn back." Our theme verse was Luke 9:62: Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." The first night our speaker talked about King Josiah in 2 Kings 22-23. He talked about the finding of the book of the law and how that changed the way Israel existed because Josiah realized who his people were supposed to be worshiping. Josiah went around and destroyed altars to other gods. But he didn't just take them down, he burned them, ground them to dust and then spread the dust in a cemetery. Josiah wasn't just saying to stop, he was saying to the Israelite community that SIN IS DEAD and we will have worship of the one true God and no other gods. He dealt with sin to bring his people back to God. One thing Keith said at the end of his talk really hit me for my own life and the way that I challenge students in their own walks. He said, "If it keeps me from God, if it hinders me from following, get rid of it!" I think too often I try to manage the big things in my life and in ministry and let little things slide, but those small things are just as big of a hindrance to following Jesus.

Matthew 16:24-26

24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Senior High Camp

I spent last week at Old Faithful Christian Ranch in Idaho for our senior high summer camp. It was a great week and one of the kids in my cabin accepted Christ (more on that later today). Camp was a ton of fun and I really enjoyed getting to know the guys in my cabin. I would love to share some pictures, but I left my camera at home so that I wouldn't spend the week trying to hide behind my lenses. The Stoney Vance Band out of Pinedale, WY led our worship and did a great job. They had great hearts and their band played great together. All in all, a great week of life and ministry, although I was excited to get home and see my family.

Camp

Heading to church camp this morning at Old Faithful Christian Ranch in Idaho. I'm looking forward to a great week of hanging out with some guys and talking about following Jesus with them. I will however, be away from all gadgets and computers until Friday night. See you then.