The Lord will perfect what concerns me

Mother's Day

After church we went to frolic in our local jungle

Sunrise Service a few weeks ago (Resurrection Sunday)

Mark reading Scripture

David and Laura leading worship

Today I was with the Juniors Cottage

and while we were watching TV, I took a paper and started drawing MOM in big block letters. A 7-year-old saw this and asked what I was doing. I told him I'm making a card for Mother's Day, and said he could have the one I started. He finished it by writing, "Mami, please get out of jail because I miss you, and I miss you because I love you. And I miss daddy too. I have lots of toys and a Lego iron man."

Mom and Dad (1981-1992)

1981, Germany

1982, California Redwoods

1983, Dad's office

1986, celebrating Dad's Master’s of Arts in Missions (from the School of Intercultural Studies, Biola University)

1992, Germany (Onkel Jascha's wedding)

The easiest way to live is without compromise.

Sermon Notes from Judges Chapter 1

Israel's victories were all from God:

"I [the Lord] have given the land into his hand" (1:2)

"As I [Israel's defeated enemy] have done [mutilated people] God has repaid me" (1:7)

"the Lord gave the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hands" (1:4)

"the Lord was with them (1:19,22)

Because the Israelites made covenants with the Canaanites and inhabitants of the land and did not tear down their alters, the inhabitants lived among them and became thorns in their sides and a snare to them (2:3).

When we compromise our loyalty to God alone, it will corrupt us and lead to anguish, regret, depression. Compromise is like inviting a virus that will reprogram our desires. Sever easy connections to evil. There is no substitute for obedience.

Caleb's daughter Achsah may seem greedy, but she was not. She was the ideal woman, pursuing God's blessing. She urged her husband to ask for land, and she took initiative to provide for her descendants. For those who trust God and obey, God blesses overflowing beyond their own life.