Stelllllaaaaaaaa!!!!! (use your yelling voice here)

Alexis inspired me to do some bios of my team. This is Stella making herself comfortable in my sink. She makes us laugh, yell and relax. She meows and purrs and when she’s tired having her head rubbed she bites your hand. Her meow is expressive…especially when she meets us at the back door when we come home. She has an affinity for hide and seek and doing her famous “stretch role” in the middle of the living room. She pursues sleep like its her job and she has an addiction to ballpoint pens and how they role around on our wood floor. She's been accused of being addicted to crack by some students who watched her for the weekend. In the morning as soon as I stand up out of bed she sprint outs of the room, bounds down the stairs and waits impatiently at her food dish for breakfast. When she starts to scratch our furniture and we tell her to knock it off, she retracts her claws and with her paws still up on the couch its as if she says, "just chill old man, I'm only stretching." She makes the weirdest noises when she's trying to catch a bug that's just out of her reach...I think she tries to call it in like a duck hunter. She’s only been outside for a couple of minutes so often she sits in the window sill daydreaming in wonderment at the miraculous outside world. When Stella was still a kitten I could make her chase a string until she was so dizzy that she couldn’t walk straight.

Ahhh…Stella you’re incorrigible.

pinch hitter

Last night I filled in last minute for Matt West who was supposed to teach a info/training time for our big outreach next week. The basics that were communicated were how to be involved in the outreach, how to respond to questions about the t-shrt they'll be wearing and preparing our hearts to genuinely love those around us. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 150 students are involved in this outreach so far. Skeptical me is really starting to believe God is going to use this on our campus.

I'm not hyperspiritual. I've never been one to see a angel or demon behind every rock. But with that said, last night I felt like my mind was under attack. During the time, I felt like my mind was so scattered, jumbled and unclear. At the end of the time I really couldn't remember what I said. I'm not sure if it was clear or not. Hopefully I communicated everything that was on my notes. I can only pray and believe that people caught the heart of this outreach and are taking steps of faith to be lights on campus.

It starts on Sunday night...stay tuned for more details.

Another thought on obedience

"Partial obedience, delayed obedience, and surface obedience to impress others are not acceptable to God. He is looking for men and women who will respond with instant, complete, wholehearted, and joyous obedience each time He speaks."

--Del Fehsenfeld Jr.

Katrina Spring Break

Check out our ministry website for an update and pictures from our Katrina spring break.

Quote of the weekend

After lunch today and quick stop at Home Depot with our friends Steve and Ashley we get in the car and Steve says, "Its not about shopping Ashley, its about hunting and gathering."

...so true

The Sabbath

I'm so enjoying the first full day off I've had in a couple of weeks. I think God was smart when he rested on the 7th day.

I got up this morning and ate some of my favorite cereal...LIFE. Not only is it a good cereal, but in its own cheesy way its name inspires me. I made some coffee...which also inspires me, read about Jesus, then laid on the couch and read the latest National Geographic Adventure magazine.

In this magazine is a story about the Rugby team that crashed in South America in 1972 and barely survived for 3 months in the Andes. The story was made famous by the movie 'Alive,' and by the fact that out of necessity they ate parts of those who died. The article retraces the crazy hike for help that 2 of them took. For some reason stories of human survival in the midst of incredible odds inspire me. Maybe its human nature or perhaps a mans need for a battle to fight and adventure to live.

Well those are my random thoughts this morning...time for lunch with our great friends Steve and Ashley and more college basketball!

SI's fault

I want to remind 'To and Fro Man' fans of a post I did a while back. Yesterday both Adam Morrison and J.J. Redick were ousted in the sweet sixteen of the big dance...both were shocking loses.

Gonzaga blows it!

Last night was some of the craziest basketball finishes I've ever seen. Texas beating West Virginia and then Gonzaga blowing a 17 point lead. My wife was the most upset about college basketball I've ever seen her (she swears she never watching anymore)...she's crossed over into the dark side. Somehow I've created this monster college basketball fan.

Game day!

Tonight at 8pm Mountain time Gonzaga faces UCLA in a Sweet sixteen showdown. I'm already nervous. We're supposed to go to some friends house for dinner tonight...I hope they don't mind if I turn on their tv and make my self comfortable on their sofa. Go Zags!

Obedience

God loves His children. He knows that we cannot fully experience and enjoy His love unless we are obedient to Him. Obeying God is not meant to be sterile, cold requirement; rather, it is a willing glad-hearted response to One who loves us extravagantly and has our best interests at heart. God does not stand by at a distance, demanding our obedience. Rather, He blesses us by allowing us to be a part of accomplishing His purposes. He calls us to surrender, invites us to follow, empowers us to serve, and then blesses our obedience.

Taken from 'Seeking Him' - Demoss

John Rozelle...

and his little chair.

Home again!

We made it home!!!

Bok! (Bye)

It's our last day in Rijeka. Its a beautiful sunny day but the wind is freezing. I had cappucino, pizza, and ice cream today. All of my favorite Croatian food.

Tonight we are taking out the Stinters for a fancy dinner and will say our goodbye's. Tomorrow morning we head to Venice...thats right Venice Italy. Its only 3 hours a way. We stay there tomorrow night and then catch our plane home on Sunday morning.

Last night we had a successful showing of Skibisuit. Somewhere around 30 Croatians showed up for the viewing and got to hear the Gospel. What was neat was that a lot of them were new people. God continues to grow this ministry here and expand its influence. What was also cool was that while we've been here some guys on our team translated the movie so now it has Croatian subtitles. Skibiscuits first translation is done.

After the showing we invited everyone to a cafe upstairs and it was exciting to see all of our team and the Stinters interacting with the Croatians.

Thanks for all your prayers. Continue to pray for this fledgling of a ministry. I'm not sure if fledgling is a word or not, but it sounds good. Pray that God would break through the barriers in peoples lives and rescue them. Pray for strength for the Stint team here. Pray for safe travel for us on the way home. God bless!

Language class

Today I learned to say "stopala," which is the word for foot in Croatian.

Prayer request

Please pray for our big Skibiscuit showing tomorrow night. Pray that the room would be full of Croatians...150 to be exact. Pray that the Gospel would go forth in power, people would fill out comment cards and want to get back together with the stinters.

mmmm....chicken burger

Today I was buying some freshly fried donuts from a street vendor on the Korzo and when he asked me if I wanted chocalate and powdered sugar (in Croatian) I responded with a resounding, "si!" Then I realized that I had just used spanish for yes and actually croatian for yes is da.

Man, I bet he was embaressed.

Update from 8 time zones away

Yesterday we got to go to church with the stinters. Even though everything was in Croatian it was really cool. It's a language lesson to sing songs in Croatian. The afternoon was free so we hopped a bus to Lovran just up the coast...see pictures below.

Things are going really well here. We had a great time in the Word and prayer as a group this morning (the stinters had their staff meeting) and then we split up and headed out to the faculties to talk with students and hand out skibiscuit fliers. It was good for all our team to get over the conversation sound barrier and be bold. Emily met a girl who invited her back to speak in her class and invite her whole class to the movie on thursday night. Then about 5 of us went to language class today at 3. It was great fun. We learned our clothes in Croatian. I would definetely try and learn the language if I lived here. The stinters have been great. They're actually functioning really well despite all the crap they've been through.

Tomorrow brings more talking to students and inviting to the Skibiscuit showing on Thursday night. Wednesday we'll take a breather. Some of us will head to Pula to recreate a scene from Gladiator in the giant Roman ampitheater.

Stay tuned!!!

Hrvatska!

We made it to Croatia! Thanks you so much for your prayers…all our travels to Croatia went smooth. Praise the Lord. We arrived Friday at about 5:30pm local time, dropped our bags and went to dinner with the Stinters. I was reintroduced to my favorite pizza place from last summer, Pizzeria Bracera. The pizza hit the spot…I then happily reintroduced myself to my favorite thing about Croatia and grabbed some banana ice cream (sladoled). I made a quick phone call to Jody and then proceeded to sleep for 13 hours! Aaaahhh the wonder of the walmart sleep aid. Don’t worry I’m not addicted or anything.

Today we met the stinters at 11:30 and split up into groups to enjoy lunch at some of their apartments. Michelle, Taylor and Alexis made Mike, Danielle and I a mean plate of spaghetti and garlic cheese bread. Thanks ladies. Then we all gathered again and the Stint team planned a staff hunt for us. We enjoyed getting our feel for the city while trying to find Andy, Marney, Taylor, Alexis, Sarah and Tim. They tried to throw us off by pretending (at least we think) to smoke cigarettes (most of the Croatian people smoke). We ended up at the Trsat Castle overlooking the city where the stinters gave us our orientation/briefing. Did I mention it was a beautiful day today. I then took up Tim and Sarah on their offer for dinner. Two homemade meals today! Finally I met up with Dario for coffee. Dario is my good friend I met in the hallway of the Red Cross from last summer. Continue to pray for him…he is so close to placing his trust in Christ. He has actually explained it to others, but has not surrendered his life!

Lastly, please pray for the big ‘event’ we’re helping the stint team with. The have reserved a room that holds about 150 people for a showing of ‘skibiscuit,’ a ski/snowboarding movie that explains the Gospel, for Thursday night. They are also reserving a café for hangout time afterwards. Pray that the room would be full!

Tomorrow…probably actually the day I will post this. We’re headed to church and then have a free afternoon. I’ll probably head up the coast about 10 miles to Lovran and Opatija with a few of our team.

Drug bust in North Hedges Residence Hall

This story makes me sad. These are freshman in a residence hall on campus.

All the Christian are moving to South Carolina

This is a funny (in a sort of a weird, way). This organization called Christian Exodus is calling all Christians to move to South Carolina to take over the government (through legal means of course). Then they will demand the government to give them their rights as a State or secede from the U.S. as their own country. I wonder what they would name it?

It makes me sad really...for a some good insight in response read here.

Pray for spring break

I'm procrastinating all the little things I need to do for my trip to Croatia by writing this update.

This thursday I leave for Croatia (Hrvatska) with a team of staff and students. I'm really excited for our time there. We get to help the stinters and give a boost to the infant ministry over there. Plus I'm good friends with a few of the stinters. So it should be a fun time.
Please pray!!! Pray for safety and smooth travel (plane and bus). Pray for quick turn around from the jet lag (8 hours difference). Pray that our team would serve with humble hearts and get a taste of what ministry is like overseas. Pray that God would lead some of the crew I'm taking to go back to Croatia in the following years. Pray for the big outreach we're doing while we are there on the 16th. Pray that God would continue to raise up Croatian student leaders.

sick

I'm recovering from being sick...yep that's how I spent my weekend.

But I've learned from it. I've realized I don't like having a cold or the flu or whatever it was. I've realized that I'm busy a lot... based on the number of things I had to cancel. But also I've realized that the world still turns and God still works even when I'm comitose on the couch for a day and half.

I'm just glad I'm getting better before I leave for Croatia on thursday.

Support a good cause

I know, I know another comment involving Gonzaga basketball...but I can squeeze this one in because its funny and it supports a good cause.

Rijeka, Croatia

This is where I'm going next week. We want to see the ministry to college students here flourish. Pray for safety and strength to serve the team while we are there. 

Men Retreat...guns and prayer.

We're gonna shoot stuff.


Our gun safety lecture..."this is a gun, don't point it at anyone."


Lifting each other up in prayer


Picture time turned on Bob.


Bob's mixing up some sweet mushrooms and onions to top off our burgers.

The SI jinx?

Give it a couple of weeks...we'll see if getting the SI cover cause any problems for Gonzaga or Duke.

Speaking of College b-ball. Selection Sunday is only a week and half. How am I going to make my picks while I'm in Croatia. I'm getting stressed already.