Confession!

As you know I am on a bit of a road trip at the moment. Before leaving many of you asked me “What do you hope to gain by going on this trip?” It was as if everyone thought that I was expecting this incredible encounter with God. I would be sleeping one night and suddenly have this Angel appear before me and give me words of wisdom that I could then go home and share with the world and like Moses coming down from the mtn my skin would be all aglow from it’s direct encounter with God. But I would quickly point out “No! All I’m expecting is to get alone with my daddy and maybe hopefully get some guidance for “The Upside Down Group as well.” Now that I’ve been gone for close to a whole month I need to make a confession. As much as I wanted my answer to be the truth it seems that others assumptions were a bit closer to reality. If you have been following my blogs at all the last few weeks then you will know that yes I have been hearing from God. It seems that I am constantly having these little encounters yet when I go more then a day or two without actually hearing from him I grow disappointed. I call out to him and ask where he is. On more than one occasion I have asked for him to surround me and to give me a God hug (Much better than a bear hug by the way). Each time he has come through with the hug. As I’m writing and reading this it sounds pretty awesome so why have I been disappointed? Even on days I hear from him I am disappointed that I haven’t “Encountered him” after all I hear of others encounters with God is it too much to ask for the same? For peets sake I left home and friends for an extended period of time. I’ve sold most of what I have to go on this trip come on God I deserve to have “A God Encounter”. I must not be doing it right. I’m trying to be wise with my finances so you don’t have to come through quite as large for me at the end of the trip. But I have spent a few nights in a hotel some I believe wisely but others I know it was just because I really couldn’t stand the thought of spending another cold night in a tent. I have gone out to eat more often then I should but the thought of canned Tuna just wasn’t sitting to well and the meal was a cheap one. But that’s not being wise with my finances will God come through when I need him to now? I have spent a lot of time exploring the countryside around me maybe instead I should have spent more time alone in my tent reading, I shouldn’t have turned on the tv in my hotel next time I’ll see if I can get a room without a tv. NEXT TIME WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THERE CAN’T BE A NEXT TIME! Wow you look at all that and no wonder God hasn’t revealed himself like I was expecting. I’m a slacker! You haven’t even offered to serve local churches in the last couple cities you were in. SLACKER!! (Forget that I tried and couldn’t find anyone home.) I think most can read this and say “it’s a load of you know what”. That’s Satan working his magic planting doubts. I can even say it as I read this but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s there. I was speaking with a friend last night that has more or less gone on the same trip and this friend recognized almost every thought I was struggling with. We found ourselves finishing each others sentences. Here’s the thing though. We know each other and both of us knew that the others intentions were legit. I leave and head to the house I’m staying in for the night and am talking to my host about the same thing. But I find myself with him trying to explain this trip and make it still sound legit. He hadn’t questioned me. He had even made a few statements about how he wished he could do the same. Yet I still keep trying to rationalize it and I can’t say anything without (in my mind) sounding like a slacker/freeloader. It was because I couldn’t insert the word “Work” in with what I was doing. I felt guilty for enjoying this creation that God gave us. That’s when I think about Genesis and Gods creation of this universe. Check it out. God creates everything first then he creates man. He creates man in his own image, he gives man dominion over everything. It seems clear to me that God Created Earth for man not man for Earth. That means God created this Earth for me to Enjoy he created each and every detail so I would have something to explore and see and experience and enjoy. Here comes my big revelation for the day and for the moment my big revelation on this trip. Are ya ready? Ya sure? Hold on to your seat it’s big, it’s revolutionary and can change your life if you truly believe it. If you’re not ready for a total and radical life change DO NOT READ ON!!! ________GOD LOVES ME!!!!________ What? That’s your BIG revelation! I learned that in Sunday school when I was 5 years old. So did I. But there’s a difference between memorizing a lesson and repeating it for others to hear and truly understanding and embracing it. I don’t know about you but I learned that God loves me while living in a world of conditional acceptance. I truly believe that my parents love me unconditionally no ifs, ands, or buts about it but other than that. Your teachers like you as long as you play along in class, your coaches like you if you can advance the team, your bosses like you if you can advance the company, Society likes you if you prove to be a productive member of society. Once any of those things stop others begin to look at you differently. But maybe, just maybe God loves me as I am for who I am. And maybe, just maybe God has sent me on this trip so he can show me how much he loves me. Not so I will spread his light across the country by serving others (Though he’s not against it.) Not to learn giant life lessons and return home changing the world, (I don’t think he’d be against that either) He didn’t call me out here so I would go hungry, or so I can sleep out in the cold. He sent me on this trip because HE LOVES ME!!! He wants me to enjoy his creation and know that he created it for me. The more I am able to enjoy it the more I am able to enjoy him. The more I am able to enjoy him the more I can embrace the fact that he truly loves me. The more I can embrace the fact that God loves me the more I fall in love with him and the more I fall in love with him the more natural it becomes to tell the world that ______HE LOVES THEM TOO!!!_______. So it’s a selfish act on Gods part? If you call wanting your children to know you love them selfish then yes it’s a selfish act. But if anyone has the right to be selfish it’s the creator of the universe so who am I to argue.

So here’s my plan for the rest of the trip. I of course will seek to be a wise steward of what he has given me but I will not be a slave to it. I will go where I feel compelled to go (Unless God tells me otherwise) and I will ENJOY MYSELF!!! While telling others about this incredible gift God has given me and I will not feel guilty about it. In doing so I will have my “God Encounter” that I am looking for. May you have the exact same encounter. May you wake up one day and know REALLY KNOW!!! THAT THE GOD OF THIS UNIVERSE _____LOVES YOU!!!!_____

What are you looking at?

I was doing my reading this morning in Isaiah and I saw something that struck me so I felt the desire to share my revelation with you. In Isaiah 20:3: Then the Lord said, “Just as my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder against Egypt and Ethiopia…” Isaiah walked naked for three years. For three years “Gods Servant” never put on a piece of clothing, NEVER!!! Now I don’t know about you but if I see someone walking down the street naked I’m going to the other side. I am making an instant judgement of the person based on his appearance without even asking him why. “What’s your purpose in being naked? In this case God told him to and it was because God was trying to make a point. God does this throughout the bible with his prophets. John the Baptist dressed in Camel skin and ate wild locusts and honey. Then he would stand on a corner and yell out the kingdom of God is at hand. (I seem to avoid those people as well.) He had another prophet marry a prostitute (Hosea), etc… All these people were messengers of God but according to anyone’s standards all these people were freaks. Most of us would do whatever we could to avoid them and when we see them quite often we laugh and run off and tell our friends “You’re never going to believe what I saw “I saw John on the corner yelling” Yes, he’s back can you believe it! You can probably already guess where I’m going with this. But I’m going there anyway. Earlier I read again in Isaiah 11:1-3 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and might, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. His delight is in the fear of the Lord, AND HE SHALL NOT JUDGE BY THE SIGHT OF HIS EYES, NOR DECIDE BY THE HEARING OF HIS EARS; … I have recognized my tendency to Judge and am desperately trying to fight against it but it’s subtle and very easy to do. This is the best reminder I have seen of just how much I can miss by listening to my first impression or the first impression of others. How about you? Where do you stand with this? Are there neighbors or co-workers that you have avoided because they seem to be a little off? Does the person running the cash register at your grocery store seem a bit different? Have you ever listened to the guy yelling on the street corner? Take a few minutes to get to know them and the heart they speak from. You may learn a bit about yourself and our God.

(Obviously practice wisdom. Some people should not be approached alone because you don’t know them.)

Hiking the Dam

So, I was spending a few days in Boulder City, NV and camping at Lake Mead. When I notice a trail that leads to the Hoover Dam. It’s only a 3.5 mile trail so I figure “Why not, Tomorrow I’ll take the trail to the Hoover Dam.” I wake up the next day and figured I would go ahead and walk to the Trail Head from my campground since it was just a couple miles up the road. I begin my walk and see an Entrance to the beach. “Hey I’ll walk the beach to the trail head that sounds like more fun.” So I work my way over to the beach and have a great time watching the sailboats along the way (There was some sort of race happening.) I get to the end of the beach and of course come to a patch of difficult walking. Through tall weeds, mushy ground, dirty, trash spread around the area, etc… Finally I make it around all this and into the Marina. I decide to head into the Marina and ask if I can catch the trail there or if I need to walk the half mile reverse of the trailhead to catch the beginning. They told me I would need to walk back or climb up the very difficult rocky incline to hit the trail. I of course decide to go up the incline. I don’t know about you but I have always hated the idea of walking backwards to move forward. Some call it lazy I like to call it efficient. So I begin the climb and it wasn’t really all that bad I make it to the trail and begin walking. Now this is an old railroad trail that they used to build the Dam. After the dam was complete they took out the rail and made it a walking trail. It was my understanding that this was a smooth trail that walkers, runners or bikers could take. But I’m walking on rocks. It’s not a hard walk but definitely not the smooth trail I was expecting. As I continue I see the trail split in two directions and it’s not labeled which way to go. So I take a guess and think wow these guys are not good at marking the trails. I move forward and it happens again. Now I’m climbing a pretty steep embankment after the climb I go down an even steeper one. I can’t believe trains ever followed this thing it seemed too steep for a train and the turns too sharp. I found myself sliding down the hill if I didn’t hit a solid rock.. After about two miles of this type of terrain I turn a corner and merge onto a smooth trail. I see another couple walking the other direction and I realize that I just landed on the real trail the other was not a trail at all but work paths for the electrical lines workers. The rest of the walk was smooth just as I had expected and I saw runners, walkers, bikes.

How many of us as we try to walk a path to God decide to take a short cut? We think “I can veer off the trail just a little bit right here and it wont hurt that much because my eyes are still on the trail. Next thing you know you’re walking a pretty rough path back to where you once were. Here’s the thing God has built a clear path to him through his son Jesus Christ. He tells us just stay on this trail and you will make it to me. The world we live in/Satan has put along this path some very enticing things to pull us off the trail and he puts them just barely off the trail so we don’t think it’s a big deal to take a small step off. But when we do we see something else a little further away and we go there and then something else and then another something. Next thing you know we can’t even see the trail we used to be on we don’t think we can ever make it back so Satan then moves in and says you might as well give up on the trail. My first word of advice is this. Don’t leave the trail! But we all know that isn’t going to happen. We all at some point in our journey are persuaded off. Which leads me to my second point. When you do fall off the trail and Satan is saying just give up. Tell him to shut up and then yell out to the trail. That’s right yell out to the trail. Our trail is alive and he will answer back I’m over here. Then he will tell you how to get back on the path. It may be a rough journey back but you’ll find it’s a rewarding one. I had fun on my pseudo trail to the dam but it was tough and I didn’t take it again on my way home.

Where are you on your journey? Have you wondered off the trail a little bit. Don’t worry about it. GOD STILL LOVES YOU! He’s waiting for you to turn around and walk into his arms so DO IT! Are you doing pretty good? You’re still on the trail. Look around for those that have fallen off. Let them know where the trail is and then offer to help them back.

Well Gang that’s my two cents worth. Hope you’re having a great week. Don’t forget Lets “Live it upside down!”

Angels Landing

As I believe most of you know I have been in Zion National Park the last few days. Let me tell you this park is appropriately named. It’s beauty is spectacular and I will be posting some photo’s on my Facebook account soon. Yesterday I went on a hike to a destination known as “Angels Landing” This was not a hike for just anyone. It’s only 2.5 miles one way but it has an elevation gain of just under 1500 feet. Parts of the climb are steep but paved so a steady pace will do ya. Most anyone can make this part of the climb because you can stop and rest as often as you like. (I am proud to say I only stopped once and no one ever passed me.) That part of the hike is just under 2 miles. After this part of the climb is a short 1/8^th mile climb on some rocks where you have to think about your steps and even use your arms a tad bit to climb. I would say that at least half the people stopped at this point and wouldn’t continue on. Some because of health or just plain inability to accomplish this type of climbing and the other half because of fear. I went on this stretch reached the top sat down and enjoyed the view thinking I had completed the hike. After a minute of sitting and chatting with a couple beside me we notice a group of kids heading back and wondered where they came from. We walked around the ledge and saw in front of us another peak. It looked like a giant pile of rocks that almost went straight up meanwhile another couple passes us heading that way. We had basically another ½ mile to go and it was close to straight up. I let out this audible “ohh wow” and moved forward with a bit of excitement about the task at hand. The other four let out the same “ohh wow” and followed it with a “No way” Since they had made it this far it was clear they had the ability but fear was stopping them. They asked “Are you really going to do this?” I made it this far I’m not going to stop now. After I had gone a ways they yelled “turn and wave we want a photo” So I did and I yelled back “It’s not as hard as it looks the footing is solid come on” They wouldn’t. I move on and they yell for another photo. After I’m about half way up the climb is soo cool I let out another Wow! Two guys a little ahead of me look down and yell It’s soo worth it come on. They assumed I was about to turn. Huh uh I’m going all the way. You see what’s happening? I love what’s going on and try to encourage others to come along. The two ahead of me love it so much they try to encourage me. I catch up with them we chat for a moment then carry on to the top. Once we reach the top we just sit there and enjoy the view. We made it! We were a part of the minority the climb was challenging but oh so much fun and the view Incredible. We take some photo’s chat awhile and then turn to head down.

I could have stopped where the others did and if I didn’t see the kids coming by never would have known the difference. But they did and I did. I could have chosen to not take the challenge and still had a great view and a great time. Everyone that had made it that far was smiling. You knew they meant it when they said “I’m great” they truly felt alive. They had even forgotten how hard the climb was up till that point because the reward was so great. But I would have always known I chickened out. I would have always wondered what it was like on top of “Angels Landing” I would have been the one taking pictures of some guy doing what I wish I had the courage to do. This isn’t a “Go for it” speech. I’m not going to say push your fears and the reward will be great. Ok maybe I will right now but that’s not the point. As I was climbing that second part I realized this is what our spiritual life is like. We accept Christ and begin the climb up. At first the climb isn’t too difficult and when the incline seems to increase our excitement of the new adventure can usually carry us through. Then we reach a landing a place where we can rest (A Mountain Top experience) We know we’re not there yet we see others pass us by but we need to rest we need to experience the joys of the view. Nothing wrong with that experience what God has been doing and live in that glory. Then a time comes when God calls us to begin the journey again. Some of us drop off. We are happy right here we are tired of the work the challenge so we stay. Others begin the climb again suddenly they reach what they think are the mountain top they stop and enjoy the moment (Great bask in God for awhile) Then they notice others moving on. They are surprised to see another mountain top. Some look and say “Ohh wow” and begin the climb others are fine where they are. You see where I’m going. I’m not going to sit here and say get off your butt and begin the climb again. I know it can be a challenge. I know it can be scary. What I am going to say is just what the guys ahead of me said. “It’s so worth it!” Begin the climb you’ll find it’s not really as hard as you thought it would be it will be challenging and “I assume” that each new stage will be more of a challenge than the last. But the last stage prepared you for the current. Don’t sit back and take photo’s of that one person taking the climb ahead of you and silently wish you could be him. You can be! God has prepared you for the climb. He has equipped you for the climb! And if there is anything he forgot to give you (Ha!) He will be right next to you to hand it to you at the moment you need it. Come on! What do ya say? Lets climb together! It’s always more fun with a partner anyway. Oh and if you are one of those that happen to think you’ve made it. You’re at the top. I have just one thing to say. “Look Up” and begin the climb.

Spiritual Warfare is alive & well!

Just last week I told you about my experience in Monticello, UT and about what a certain church was doing to stand in the gap. I believe I mentioned my conversation with Pastor John who told me that the entire four corners area was under an oppression because of the practicing “Witch Doctors”, “Spiritual Ceremony’s”, as well as the Mormon Stronghold. I was very aware of the situation. By the time I left Monticello, I had walked the town and prayed enough that while I still could feel the oppression I could also feel Gods presence. Pulling out of town it was almost as if I could feel a hug from God as he was saying “You did all I requested. Well Done” So with all that in mind Let me ask you. “Why did I let my guard down?” I left Monticello and went straight S to Chinle, AZ Monument De Chelly. Chinle is in the heart of the four corners area (Where four states join together.) I’m in a great mood the whole ride, the weather is great. I get to the area find a great camping spot in a free campground everything looks great. I hop on my bike and ride to a few of the lookout points trying to catch a little bit before the sun goes down. The more I ride the more I begin to feel frustrated. I turn onto a lookout road and grow frustrated that I still need to ride a mile down the road to get to the viewpoint. I begin to ask myself “Why are you growing frustrated?” I have no answer. Calm down Larry. I get to the campground walk around for awhile, listen to a podcast, Then go to bed. I am on edge all night hearing every noise. I even hear the coyote (I think) that came into the campground and stole almost all my food and my $100 water purifier because it was in my food bag. No big deal, I shake it off Find some oatmeal I had separate from the rest of the food. Make breakfast and begin roaming. I feel ok at the beginning of the day my head is kinda full but no biggie it was cold overnight it’ll clear up as the day goes on. But the more I roam the more I feel like I’m getting a bad head cold. I try to pray it off but it doesn’t leave. I ask God why not? You love me, you want the best for me I see no reason why you wouldn’t want to heal me, Please do so? Nope it just continues to get worse. Finally I decide “Well I’m not going to hike today because I feel this way and I’ve ridden to most of the View points I can I might as well leave (I had planned on staying for the night.). I go to the camp ground and somewhere on the way it hits me. “I think this is a spiritual thing. It’s the oppression in the area.” I begin to pack up my tent and the head cold is disappearing but I can’t concentrate. It usually takes me about 30 minutes or so to load my bike this time because I literally had to think through every step it took me over an hour. By now I know it’s the oppression but I don’t think I prayed it off I just knew I had to run. I finally hop on my bike fill up with fuel and leave. I’m hungry but I know I can’t take the time to eat I have to get out of there. I hit the road and guess what… With-in 15 minutes I feel fine. Now I just want to get out of the four corners area. I pray for protection. I pray for the town and I continue to leave. I don’t quite make it out of the four corners before I have to stop for the night but now I am praying and praying and praying for protection over the night. I get a text from a friend telling me he’s praying for me and I am relieved I text back and say “Thank You Randy” the next morning I get another text from a friend saying he is praying for me. I think my friends knew I needed prayer. Here’s Satan working. I want to text my support group and say pray but I just did a week ago for the same thing I don’t want them to think I’m losing it so I don’t. Thankfully at least some of them knew anyway. I think all probably did those are just the one’s I heard from.

I have so many different directions I could go right now but here is where I want to go. Here is the question. Why did I let my guard down? In Monticello I was standing bold taking my authority in Christ seriously. In Chinle I was running scared (Even though I had warning it would be that way). The answer… Despite what I had already experienced in Monticello and at other times in my life. I wasn’t taking this whole spiritual warfare thing seriously. My head knew it existed but my heart hadn’t really embraced that I am called to be a warrior on the front lines. Therefore I was primed for a surprise attack and that is exactly what happened. Let me give you a word of warning. I am not the only one called to the front lines. If you are reading this and you consider yourself a follower of Jesus Christ. You are called to the front lines! Yes you! The enemy has you in his sights. If you are moving toward God the enemy is moving toward you. I promise you the attacks will be subtle but they will be real. Really you’ve already been under attack. Do you go to pray and get distracted? Go to study your bible with the same result? Feel the urge to talk to someone about God but then find 20 reasons why not? These are all examples of an attack. Take it seriously. Pray into it every day. Ask God to protect you from the enemy and to make you bold ready and willing to advance at every opportunity. If you haven’t yet said that prayer stop what you are doing right now and do it. I don’t want to be caught off guard again. There is no reason we should ever be afraid with Christ as our leader yet I was running like a coward. God help me to see the unseen and be ready today and every day for the battle at hand. I thank you that you are my Commander with you at my side leading every charge we cannot be defeated. I know you wont ever leave my side help me to not drift away from yours.

For you Lord for you!

How many of you like me when you are praying for someone or something feel the pressure to make it a lengthy prayer? For me at least it sometimes feels like I’m not giving my friend or the situation it’s proper attention if I don’t spend at least X amount of time in prayer. Now the question is “Does God need to hear all those words in order for our prayers to be effective?” Of course not! God doesn’t need any of it. But he does want to partner with us. He wants us to be involved thus the reason for him asking us to pray. Remember what we’ve been talking about lately? Learning how to listen to God in prayer and then praying what he tells us to pray. What I’ve found myself doing is hearing God say “Pray for so and so to get a job” Rather than Responding with God please be with so and so and allow them to find that job that he/she is made for that would make them happy and be able to provide for their needs. (Which is still more than he asked me to pray) I feel the need to go into great detail about the specific job, a timeline for finding the job, the type of coworkers they get to work with, the income level, Oh and please provide it in such a way that it’s clear it came from you. Is there anything wrong with giving so much detail? Probably not. Other than if God doesn’t answer in the exact way we prayed we are sometimes disappointed that God didn’t show up even when they get the job. Gods details are usually better than ours so receiving the job is a great answer even if the other things don’t work out because that is the job that God wanted you to have.

This whole topic really hit home for me this past week. The town I am currently in has a real spiritual stronghold over it. Not to the positive. I spoke with the Pastor of the church I am staying in and he agreed. This whole region known as “The Four Corners” is under an oppression for various reasons. The day I heard it I went out and begin to walk the town and pray. My prayers were big (I think I was under an adrenaline rush) I would walk by the Mormon Temple and pray that the statue on top would fall over as a symbol of God taking the town back. That the temple and both the Mormon churches in town remain filled but filled with followers of Christ. That the Mormon Seminary in town keep its current students but that they would realize the lies and become students of the one living God and that their lives be dedicated to exposing those lies. I was on a real roll. But the only thing I heard God ask me to do was to pray for the town. The next day I went out and began to walk the town in prayer again. This time nothing was coming to mind to pray but God was saying to pray for the town. So I walked around at the beginning with a lot of remember last nights prayer God… Ditto! I grew disappointed that the statue on top of the Temple was still standing and not even slightly tarnished. As I continued to walk I Began to pray “For you Lord for you” That was it God just asked me to keep repeating that phrase “For you Lord for you” Past the temple “For you Lord for you” Past the churches “For you Lord for you” through the neighborhoods “For you Lord for you” it didn’t matter where I was walking the prayer worked. The Businesses “For you Lord for you” As I began walking that night the same thing “For you Lord for you” As I began the next day God help my day to be “For you Lord for you” I have continued to pray for each of you but for the last two days my prayers for you have been that your lives be “For you Lord for you” and that’s how I want to leave this little note with you knowing that my prayers for you are simple “Lord be with them, Bless their Lives and help them to live each of their days “For you Lord for you!”

God Bless I hope you continue to have a great week and lets not forget to live it “For you Lord for you”

Standing in the Gap

Talk about standing in the gap. Let me tell you about a little church in the town of Monticello, Utah. Monticello, Utah sits at the intersection of two highways 191 & 491 Until just a couple years ago it sat at the intersection of 191 & 666 someone finally had the foresight to change the name of one of the highways. Obviously the name doesn’t pronounce judgment on anything but in this case I do believe it was incredibly prophetic. Let me tell you a couple other points of interest about this town. Being in Utah it is of no surprise that it is heavily Mormon. However it is a surprise to me at least that the Bishops thought it an important enough stronghold to build a temple. Not only this but the Indian population in the area is very strong as well. With the heavy Indian population you also find quite a bit of witchcraft. Put those two things together and you have a town that is under some pretty heavy oppression. You also have a town that I believe God finds very important and is fighting for. It’s a battle ground for what they call the “Four Corners” the area that 4 different states come together CO, UT, AZ, NM. To show you just how important this little church is it runs the only radio station in town. A few years ago when they had decided to build a Mormon temple in town Pastor John received a phone call from someone simply telling him they needed a radio station and he would file the papers for a permit. Out of 180 some applications for special grant permits that year First Baptist was one of five that received a permit. Next they needed to build a tower. No one knew anything about how to build a tower or had any money to buy the equipment. Suddenly an old radio man appears and donates everything they need for the tower just things he had collected over the years. None of it was built for this purpose but it works. John designed and drew out the plans for the tower pad (Remember he has no experience) He sent them in for approval and they passed the inspector was surprised when he found an engineer didn’t draw them out. Finally 2 years later the station is up and they find the extra strain on their electric bill ($75 a month more) was stretching them too thin out of the blue a radio station a few miles away wants to bounce their signal off of the churches tower and pays them rent of $500 a month. The extra gives them money to buy equipment to do the job right. Out of the blue a man and his brother come for a visit and the brother gets a calling to stay and run the station. Rhett gets it to a professional sound but they have few listeners. Rhett has a passion for football and asks if he can broadcast the high schools games suddenly they have a following. Now the station is central to everything in the town. Pastor John Runs the political debates, they broadcast the city council meetings this station has become central to the community. Oh did I forget to tell you that the Bishop in town has told the members to not listen to the station? Guess what that did… You bet suddenly the listenership increased. What’s funny is they never set out a plan to do this. It’s clear God wanted it and he got it. This community that is against Christianity looks to the church because it’s the best option for them. The airwaves are saturated with God. How awesome is that? Now let me tell you about their newest passion. A group of men has begun taking fatherless boys out into the wild once a month and teaching them wilderness survival skills. Not only do they do this but they parallel the lessons with stories of how they relate to Christ. It’s really cool to hear about. Now they have a dream and an opportunity. There is a wilderness camp that has been offered to them for purchase and it just happens to be beside a members ranch. It is their dream to be able to open this up for boys every week. Partnering with churches that have men standing by to be mentors to these young men. I wish I could describe the program more clearly but can you imagine boys from across the country coming to this camp living the life boys dream of. Learning to rough it, to live off the land having instructors pointing out to them “See this horse and all the power it has. See how it is controlled yet at any moment could break lose. That is what it means to be meek. You have power it’s time to learn to control that power.” (One very tiny example of the types of lessons they teach the boys.) Then sending them home to their mentors that are aware of the lessons they were just taught and pick it up from there. They are at the beginning of this journey and they currently feel overwhelmed diving into a whole realm of issues. That tells me it’s God sized dreaming.

I haven’t given you an assignment this week just a bunch of stories or little lessons God has pointed out to me this past week. So here it is your assignment for the week. I ask you to pray for this church this little sanctuary in the middle of a war zone. Ask that God continue to bless their efforts in the community (Pastor John works in the hospital just so he can form relationships in the community.) That he continue to bless and grow the radio station. That the town begin to open up to hearing about Christ not just using the church. And that God show them the clear next steps to fulfilling this most recent dream. (I know he will as it is clearly him that has placed it on their hearts and already opened small doors. But lets pray for it all the same.)

I hope you’re having a great week Gang and once again Lets live it Upside Down!

Observations from a trail!

I have spent the last two days hiking inside Arches National Park and let me tell you it is beautiful country. Who knew a desert could be so beautiful! I think I have ultimately hit every trail that you are allowed to go on in the park without receiving a special permit. Here is what I noticed. (You may think this is obvious but it’s still worth pointing out.) “The trails with the most people on them were the easiest trails.” Here’s another thing I noticed. “The trails with the most warnings attached to them were the one’s with the best experience.” Being a beginner in the world of hiking I naturally didn’t hit the hardest trail first. (I hit the second hardest) The trail I hit wasn’t dangerous by any stretch of the imagination and honestly most anyone could do it. The hardest part was a 480 foot climb that wasn’t gradual at all. But it wasn’t grab a rope and hold on for dear life either. I knew I could make the climb because I knew I could stop and rest if necessary. Time to brag a bit I had no need of stopping. Did I begin to breath heavy? You bet! But I knew I could push on and wanting to get back into shape I decided to not take it easy. I chose a steady pace and continued all the way to the top. The reward was another great view and the ability to get my picture taken under the most photographed rock/arch in the world (That right there should tell you it wasn’t too difficult of a climb). Day number one I hit every trail accept for two. One didn’t seem that exciting to me and the other was the hardest and longest one in the park. By then the day was almost over and I figured I wouldn’t see anything totally different on this trail than the others so I left. The next day I decided to go back after all I had no timeline for being anywhere and how fun would it be to say I hiked every trail in the park. So I go up to this trail read about it and see that there are two parts to the trail the easy hike but not for those afraid of heights and the primitive trail only recommended for experienced hikers. The primitive trail was an extra 2 mile loop added to the day. Needless to say If you ever see a warning that says “Not for those who are afraid of heights” Go on it! Can I say “Wow” the view was breathtaking and the whole time you are standing on a rock that is probably 100 yards long and 3 to 4 feet wide with no handrails. I decide to take the extra 2 mile loop on the primitive trail and find that it really is much easier than they make it sound yet I am all alone. I see one other group a father son team the whole time. Everyone else was afraid to take the hike. This time it was in the valley climbing stones walking up hill on a diagonal with no real base. Walking through timberland you didn’t know existed hopping small ponds it was a really cool hike. It gets me to thinking about my past. As an actor two of my favorite shows I’ve been a part of were shows I originally didn’t want to do. I saw them loved the show and then thought I hope I never have to do it. Next thing you know I’m being asked to do it. Not being one to say no I accept the part and see that I can do it after all. Were they a challenge? Definitely! But one’s worth taking. When I was a Technical Director I would often be presented with a set to build that had new challenges to it. I would have to learn a new skill in building or painting, etc… I would always look back at those projects with great pride because they forced me to stretch myself. I’m not saying these things to brag I think each and every one of us has these experiences and you know exactly what I’m talking about. So where are you going with this? I’m glad you asked. Why is it that we can take the challenge with one part of our lives but struggle with it in other parts? How many of you have heard God asking you to do something but the thought of doing it scares you too much? “Leave my job! But how will I get by?” “Talk to so and so about God! But I don’t know what to say.” “Give money to such and such but I need it to pay my bills” You get the point. I want to suggest to you that every time we come up with an excuse to not listen we rob ourselves of some great experiences. We rob ourselves of an experience with God. Too many of us are only willing to walk with God in our comfort zones and as a result we are living in an uncomfortable world. Do yourself and the world a favor take the difficult trail “The path less followed” Dive into God’s life with both feet you will never be bored and you will always have new story’s to tell. Remember what one man did some 2,000 plus years ago by saying yes to God and what his 12 disciples did after. It’s time to say yes. It’s time to live the life!!

Taking a photo!

I hit Colorado a few days back and began to see these incredible views. Now that I am in Utah the amazement hasn’t lessened. God has created some incredibly beautiful country for us to appreciate. Now I’m pretty new at taking photo’s so I’ll admit I’m probably not the best at trying to figure out what to capture when in order to take the best photo. But I’ve been struggling with this. How do I capture in a single photo the incredible beauty that I’m looking at? Especially when it’s a vast openness that is taking my breath away. I don’t care how good the camera is or how experienced the photographer it just isn’t possible to capture the fullness of what you are experiencing. For one second lets imagine that it is possible (After all I have taken a few of what “I” consider to be breathtaking photo’s.) I am now in Moab Utah gorgeous country. Who knew the desert could be so beautiful. It is not possible to capture all of Moab Utah in one photo or even all of Arches National Park, or even all of the smallest hike in Arches. It’s not supposed to be possible. I think God created this incredible universe for us to encounter bit by bit, piece by piece. God also gives us clues to who he is in his creation. As I’ve been hiking the last few days I’ve been on top of mountains and seen miles upon miles of Gods creation all at once and been blown away by the sheer beauty of it all. That view made me want to hit the trails all the more so I could experience what I was seeing. But it wasn’t until I hit the trails and experienced what I had seen bit by bit that I truly appreciated the over all scenery. Before the hike all I knew was “It is beautiful” during the hike I saw the details. I noticed dried up river beds, pine tree’s sitting next to tumbleweed, and a sandy trail that ended in solid rock. I saw the stone had multiple colors in it, Gecko’s running at my feet and even an Eagle flying over head with a snake in it’s grasp. I could go on but you get the point. These hikes almost always had a point where you were “On Top” It was only then after being in the thick of it that I could begin to appreciate the details of the larger picture. Now I can notice the green scenery, I see the outlines of the creek beds, I notice the birds flying in front of me. So I can’t see every detail but I know it’s there and I can imagine the parts I can’t see (Because I know it’s there.) I would say that at one point in all of our lives we saw a big God we saw a God that was incredible, awe inspiring, overwhelming, and maybe even a little bit scary. It’s what drew us to him in the first place. How many of us have taking the hike? How many of us have taken the time to dive into God and begin learning the details that go with him. I would guess that many of us began the trip but soon grew overwhelmed and stopped preferring to view him from a distance. (The topic of my next post) Let me encourage you “Take the journey” dive into God learn the details of who he is. I could probably spend years in Arches National Park and never quite catch all the details but I will catch more and more and appreciate them more than “It’s a fun place to go 4 wheeling” (Which is what most here do) Likewise we can dive into God more and more everyday for the rest of our lives and we will never grasp the fullness of who he is. But we will appreciate the details of who he is that much more. I don’t know about you but I don’t want to just go 4 wheeling with God (Throw up the emergency prayers and sing a few songs on Sunday) That’s all well and good but I want to know those hidden details that draw the world to him. I want to know him intimately! Who wants to go hiking?

Rainy Day

So, I'm riding my back down I-80 yesterday and the weather is not good. It's a very heavy mist the heaviest i've ever seen and not be considered rain. The road is soaked my pant legs are soaked but amazingly it really isn't all that cold even though the temp is in the 50"s. Radar tells me that the rain is going to stop with-in about 30 miles so I decide to push on. Next thing you know I see a spot of blue sky, with-in a couple miles the sun breaks through the clouds and I find myself singing out loud Hallelluia (Can't spell it but I can say it) After about 10 minutes or so the sun disappears again and I was very sad and disappointed I saw no option for it to come back But off to my left I saw clear sky and I so desperately wanted to turn but I couldn't the rd had me locked in the wrong direction. Then it hits me "This is just like our life with God" Before God we are driving down a rd Dark and cloudy we find God and the clouds slowly begin to break we see the sun for the first time and sing out in excitement and amazement over his beauty. Before long our old life begins to pull us back in we see the clouds moving in and we so desperately want to stop them but we feel trapped we're locked on a road that we can't change. Guess what happened to me yesterday. As I was processing this suddenly the Sun broke through the clouds and began shining directly on me. Right in front of me before it seemed of in the distance. You may feel like you are on the wrong road traveling away from God desperately wanting to turn in the right direction but you're trapped you can't get off the road. This is what's so cool about God. Look to him even when you feel trapped and he will break through the clouds. After awhile the sky will be blue and those struggles a distant memory. God will have broken through those clouds and he'll be shinning even brighter than when you first met him as if to say Welcome Home.

Are you struggling? Look to God he wants to break through those clouds and say WELCOME HOME!!!

On the road

Hey Gang,

I am writing you from Kearney Nebraska. Nope I haven't made it very far yet cold has a tendency to slow you down a bit and now because of the rain I am sitting in a coffee shop and able to write you a note. First let me say Thank you to those of you that made it out to the Treasure Hunt Thursday night it was a good time. For those of you that chose to bless me with a monetary gift your generosity blew me away. Not only did it blow me away but it is the only reason I am able to write you from Kearney. After paying my bills for the next 2 months the only cash I have left is part of what you gave me. Isn't God good, he knew what I needed and he used you to give it to me.

Just an fyi I have changed my plans already. I checked the weather last night and saw snow in the direction I was heading so today as soon as the rain clears I will be pointing my bike South and heading to a new location. Don't ask where. I guess we'll all know once I arrive. For the first time in my life I am now working without a plan. (Unless you count avoid the rain and cold as a plan.)

This leads me to my assignment for the week. It's a selfish one this time. This week continuing the theme of prayer. I am asking that you pray for me. I am trying to walk with and seek God on this trip. My plans have already been erased putting me completely at his will if I can only listen to his guiding. Please pray that I don't get in the way and for his continued provision financially. That I grow an ability to engage everyone I come across. The bike and Bill's painting are great icebreakers.

Meanwhile my assignment is to pray for you. During the first half of my ride last night I went to do the normal thing and pray for myself yet God said "No, pray for your friends first" This is what I will be doing everyday this week you will be the first I pray for. Of course I don't say this to guilt you into praying for me. I don't want those prayers anyway. I say it so you know that you know you have an intercessor. Actually, hey that's an idea. (Can you tell I'm thinking as I type.) We have a great opportunity. As I know where I am heading I'll let you know. If you have someone in that state or city that you have been praying for let me know and as I ride through the state or that specific city I will be praying for your friend. If I'm in the city and they can meet I'll meet them so we can pray face to face. This wont work if we use the blog to update each other because I wont have daily access to my computer. But Facebook will work. If we aren't already friends on FB find me (Larry Rife from Des Moines, IA) and friend me. I can update FB from my phone and messages come straight to me. As I know where I'm going I'll update my status if you know someone that I can pray for leave a comment to my update. If you want me to meet the person I of course will need more info so send me a message with the info. This could work (The benefits of not having a timeline).

Ok Gang, it's time for me to check on the weather. Have a great week and of course "Lets live it Upside Down!