A Thankful Affair

My Family, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

We had a great time with lots of family this Thanksgiving. Assuming that we are going to be on the other side of the world next year, this Thanksgiving was extra special. On top of catching up, laughing, crying, and generally just enjoying each other, a few of us were able to take a local flight this past Friday. We were an interesting lot. My passengers consisted of (left to right) my sister (an interior designer), my cousin (he serves our country flying these , currently stationed in Italy), and my other cousin (a professional violinist). It makes me wonder if I am in the right family sometimes when I am in the presence of such company. But regardless, we had a great time flying around the local area, surely a flight to remember for me.

Weekend News

Mesa Verde N.P., originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

This past weekend we had a great time ministering to the folks in Cortez, CO. We left extra early on Saturday so we could have time to see Mesa Verde National Park on our way. It was awesome! Seeing things like that with such age and history really gives the area a special feeling to it. I cannot imagine what it would be like to tour Europe or Israel, since Mesa Verde is "only" 700+ years old.

It was a pleasure to see all the folks in Cortez again. They really made us feel at home, and made it a point to send us on our way with prayer. It is always a blessing to share what God is doing around the world with His people, and have the excitement become contagious.

No Excuse

Old Faithful Geyser Yellowstone, N.P., originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

Romans 1:20 "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead so that they are without excuse."

Isn't it so true that if all we had at our disposal was creation itself we know that there is a God. Who can really ponder creation, even for just a moment, and not be overwhelmed and flooded with a feeling of how small and insignificant we really are compared to the Universe! WOW! And God still thinks of us!

We are off to Cortez, Colorado in a few minutes to minister at a church there tomorrow morning. We are excited to visit this church again, and share with them the passion and zeal that God has given to us about missions, specifically mission aviation. What a privilege to travel to the other side of one of the greatest states in the Union enjoying the view so we can share with the body what is happening in God's kingdom throughout the world.

Please join us in prayer for not only traveling mercies, but the blessing of changing lives as we share. I have been given the privilege to not only share the ministry of MAF, but to also preach. I can't wait, I feel like I have an exciting word to share with them. Pray for an anointing to touch my tongue and their hearts. It is our prayer during our deputation time that as we visit churches and individuals we can see lives changed for eternity.

Falling Moon

Falling Moon, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

Very beautiful moon setting over the San Juans this evening. Made for an interesting picture attempt. The headlights of HWY 160 can be seen going left to right. Now I need to get a better tripod that won't shift with my heavy lens attached leading to shifting lights.

MAF Videos from Ecuador

For fun I have put a few of the takeoff and landing videos that I made from our time in Ecuador back online. I have a lot more footage of Ecuador and Mexico that I am hoping to do something similar with in the near future. Because of the rapid change in technology, I am now waiting on a cord to download all my video footage to my "new" computers. Currently, I am unable to view any of my video footage from either country. I will post some new videos whenever I get the cord and then have the time to edit my footage and make something viewable out of it.

Ordinary Everyday Life

Great Sand Dunes N.P., originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

1 Corinthians 10:31 "Whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God."

"It is one thing to go through a crisis grandly, but another thing to go through every day glorifying God when there is no witness, no limelight, no one paying the remotest attention to us. ... The test of the life of a saint is not success, but faithfulness in human life as it actually is" O. Chambers

Great Weekend

Duck Invasion, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

Our time with the Creede Baptist Church went very well this past weekend. Although a small church by most modern standards, the people are full of passion for missions and they were excited to hear what God is doing through us with MAF. Also, this little church of under 100 people just got done packing and shipping over 400 gift boxes for Operation Christmas Child. As I found out about this, I added a few more notes to share when the time came for me to present in front of the congregation. I shared with them that while serving in Latin America, I had the privilege of delivering some of those Christmas Boxes. It was a neat link to share with this little church of how their generosity actually does reach children in very remote areas of the word. As the pastor said, "how else can we so effectively share the Gospel with over 400 people." I know from experience that those boxes will be received and treasured by numerous children all over God's green earth right down to the box they come in.

Presentation Time

We're Back!, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

After our first full week of sharing with people what we are doing with MAF and where we are going to serve, we already have the blessing of sharing this coming Sunday at a Church up in the mountains about an hour from my house. We have been very blessed to see how God is really opening doors for us, and the neat and very unique opportunities He is already providing for us as we acquire our ministry support team. Your prayers are greatly appreciated as we officially begin traveling and sharing our ministry with MAF. We are passionate about what we are doing and that makes it easy to share about. Pray with us that the "Urgency of the Gospel" would be communicated and our passion would be contagious. Hopefully, we will even see some of you soon in your own church.

Partakers of His Sufferings

Bison and Nez Peirce River, Yellowstone, N.P., originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

1 Peter 4:13  "but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when his glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy"

"If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a multitude of experiences that are not meant for you at all, they are meant to make you useful in His hands, and to enable you to understand what transpires in other souls so that you will never be surprised at what you come across. ... In the history of the Christian Church the tendency has been to evade being identified with the sufferings of Jesus Christ; men have sought to procure the carrying out of God's order by a short cut of their own. ... Are we partakers of Christ's sufferings? Are we prepared for God to stamp our personal ambitions right out? Are we prepared for God to Destroy by transfiguration our individual determinations?" O. Chambers

Discernment of Faith

Full Moon Over Mount Blanca, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

"Faith by its very nature must be tried, and the real trial of faith is not that we find it difficult to trust God, but that God's character has to be cleared in our own minds. ... Never confound the trail of faith with the ordinary discipline of life, much that we call the trial of faith is the inevitable result of being alive." O. Chambers

You Are Not Your Own

Halloween Afternoon, originally uploaded by Cielo Azul Images.

1 Corinthians 6:19 "do you not know...you are not your own."

"There is no such thing as a private life -"a world within a world"- for a man or woman who is brought into fellowship with Jesus Christ's sufferings. God breaks up the private life of his saints, and makes it a thoroughfare for the world on the one hand and for Himself on the other. No human being can stand that unless he is identified with Jesus Christ." O. Chambers