"But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him...And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf" (Gen. 8:9-11).


God knows just when to withhold from us any visible sign of encouragement, and when to grant us such a sign. How good it is that we may trust Him anyway! When all visible evidences that He is remembering us are withheld, that is best; He wants us to realize that His Word, His promise of remembrance, is more substantial and dependable than any evidence of our senses. When He sends the visible evidence, that is well also; we appreciate it all the more after we have trusted Him without it. Those who are readiest to trust God without other evidence than His Word always receive the greatest number of visible evidences of His love. --C. G. Trumbull

"Country Boys"

This was probably the most touching, heart wrenching and personal documentary I have ever seen. Chris and Cody are America's tragic heros. Their hubris is themselves and it kills to watch them repeat their heart break over and over again, but their stories, their spirits are precious.

London, England

Okay, so those of you who know Heath and I realize that we are crazy Harry Potter fans. Yes! We love the sacrilegious series! We're on pins and needles waiting for Book 7 - the final book! We love Saint Potter, we love the BBC, I love Mystery, and we both love England. Lately, I have felt that this strong, firey desire to go there. I can't even explain it, and whether he was joking and I was serious, we both discussed moving to London. No joke!

Morning

WILL there really be a morning?
Is there such a thing as day?
Could I see it from the mountains
If I were as tall as they?

Has it feet like water-lilies?
Has it feathers like a bird?
Is it brought from famous countries
Of which I have never heard?

Oh, some scholar! Oh, some sailor!
Oh, some wise man from the skies!
Please to tell a little pilgrim
Where the place called morning lies!

- Emily Dickinson

What Next?

Well, we did it. We left Greenhaven Neighborhood Church. It wasn't easy. In fact, it was as though we lost a loved one. That church has so many precious memories - not the building, but the people. Of course, the people who meant the most to us (Derk and Connie, Cindy and Kerry, Martin and Paula, Missy, Brent and Jodie, John and Rebecca) left before we did. It was like a second home for us.

Christmas was especially hard, but we're doing so much better than I had expected. Heath and I are doing a devotion with each other, and we're also going through a study with the kids. I've noticed a marked change in my walk with the Lord. I am more dependent on Him now. We've visited Danny's church and the church Missy attends, but our eyes are on the prize, Mosaic Sacramento. I am truly excited about it. The "Dada" church is in the early stages of development, but every day I imagine a place where people come together and worship Christ without the constraints of the American church, as we presently know it.

...

I had an epiphany last Sunday as I was listening to the pastor at Sanctuary (the church Missy attends). He was speaking about how the generations have negatively affected the church as a whole, but something popped into my head. I realized that it isn't so much that the people themselves have destroyed the church, but rather our prosperity has chipped away at its sanctity. I understand I am not communicating this well. What I am trying to say is this: If you look at the history of this nation, you will notice that people were more dependant on Christ during adverse times. The church was passionate. Then of course the opposite is true during prosperous times. Look at Christians in China. Their faith is fierce, and their government is extremely oppressive. Now look at Americans. We are wealthy and our faith is lacking.

This leads me to the following...Trials and tribulations are a blessing - not a punishment from the Lord, but a reminder that He is our Father and the only one who can deliver us from the sin of this world.