Four Wild Geese

Work

2009-07-08T02:40:00.000-07:00

Hey there,
Sorry I did not Blog about my dads birthday. Well Noah gave him an awesome globe, and I gave him a Johnny Cash CD. We did not have a party, but we hung out as a family.

Well as I told you I am working, but I did not tell you the details. I have been Babysitting for my neighbor every Tuesday. This Thursday I am going shopping with her, but only to watch her youngest who is to young to go in the day care. This coming Tuesday she is having a play group at her house, so maybe I will have more people to work for. I am saving up for a piano, so I think I have a ways more to go.

I will Blog again soon

Eden Rose Farmer

the blog is open for buisness (again)

2009-07-04T07:01:00.000-07:00

Hey there,
Well this is four wild geese blog spot right? So I, (Eden) think i am going to start blogging now and then.
Well my dad hasn't Blog in forever so let me tell you what is going on. Well tomorrow is my dads Birthday. I will blog about his party tomorrow. My Nana recently visited us from America, and I got my first job babysitting on Tuesday of this week. Also one of my friends, Dani is having her Birthday party today. I think I will be partied out for a while, but only for a little while.

Well on another note the weather is wonderful. My mom has been going to the beach and swimming every day. Oh ya, I forgot to tell you guys, I got out of school on June 16th. Well I have to go get ready for the party. Will Blog about my dad's Birthday tomorrow.

A Thought

2009-06-12T05:17:00.000-07:00

"We have very few inferior people in the world. We have lots of inferior environments. Try to enrich your environment."

-Frank Lloyd Wright

Pictures of the 24/7 House of Prayer

2009-03-02T08:41:00.000-08:00

The Burning Bush

Haley after an all nighter in the Prayer House

Peter in the 24/7 prayer room

Sunday night closing worship

Jered in the 24/7 prayer room

Carey worshiping

Maureen resting after a long shift in the house

The "Who is God?" room

Kiwi, Maria Joao, and Joanna

Marty and Zaca leading worship for Christian Surfers

Maureen, Emily, Alana, and Jered Friday night opening worship

Be Blessed and Pray like your life depended on it.

Why Do Things Go Wrong?

2009-03-01T14:43:00.000-08:00

You know I just can't figure out what I'm doing wrong sometime. This evening I wrote the most beautiful and graphic blog (you'll have to take my word on this one because I don't want to write it all over again) It was about the kids going down to the beach and catching octopus with the Graf children and us cooking it up and eating it. Well then when I post it on my blogsite, it's not there. I mean the picture are there but the words are gone except the last few. I hate that!
Between Facebook, e-mail, blogs, text messages, linked-in, web sites, and news letters, it feels like I'm spending as much time talking about what were doing as doing it and when I spend all that time putting our life out there and then it doesn't work...AHHHHHH!, is all I can say. So just look at the octopus pictures from the post before, and pretend the words are there. Oh and still, Be Blessed.
(Here's a one more Octopus pic. Isn't my girl brave)

Fresh from the Oceans of Portugal to Our Dinner Plate

2009-03-01T13:45:00.001-08:00

This morning the Graf kids and my children went down to the beach for awhile to get out of the house before it started raining. (The Graf's have been living with us for the last week while they look for a house to live in when they move here.) So the kids headed out and about an hour later the door buzzer rings, Sydney cosme running in to grab a bucket for the octopus and star fish that they've caught. You might remember that Noah caught an octopus by hand last year at one of the sea pools. And then again two weeks ago he caught another one. This would be his third. I hadn't let him keep them up to this point, but some of the Portuguese men suggested we cook it the next time we catch one. So when they came dragging back in with a bucket full of starfish and octopus I figured why not, let's cook it up tonight.So that's what we did. We slapped it onto the cutting board and we all went "Ewwww" as Laina cut that little sucker up (it was much smaller than the last one Noah caught), then we threw it into some garlic butter and cooked it for an appetizer. Fresh Octopus, swimming in the ocean at 12:00 on your plate at 20:00. Not everyone was sold on the idea of eating it, but in the spirit of adventure everyone, except the boys, gave it a shot.And you know what? It was GOOOOOD! I mean really good. Sure it was slightly chewy, but not gross. Very much like fried squid in the texture. We had a great time eatting the bounty of the ocean that the Lord provided through our kids. And had some fun taking picture of our wild tribe. If your coming this way let me know and I'll send down the kids to catch you a fresh one and we'll throw it on the B-B-Q.Be Blessed and Eat Fresh (That's real see food)

BLOG #100...The Perfect Storm

2009-02-26T07:42:00.001-08:00

Post # 100
Wow has life been fast, full and furious lately. This last weekend, Friday through Sunday, we held an all day, all night 24/7 house of prayer at the old pink house next door to our's. All I can say is AWESOME! Our community, the Lisboa Matrix, joined up with Christian Surfer's Portugal, and Young Life Portugal to host the event. It was an amazingly powerful weekend. The Spirit of the Living God filled the house to over flowing and the people were packed into the living room area during our three different community worship times. It was really incredable. In between the nights of worship music, there were cool quiet times where people were able to connect on the heart level, flop on the pillows and cushions in the living room and chill. There was also plenty of praying going on in the 24/7 prayer room up stairs. With paints, chalk, crayons, hearts and tears poured out on the walls that were covered with paper. I would post some pictures, but my computer can't handle all the digital information right now. (Every time I try to down load them my machine crashes) Anyhow there were a number of people from all three communites there that felt we need to pursue this house as an actual ministry center. It's very much the heart of the 'Blue House' idea, if you've heard me talk about the 'Blue House', except this one is pink. I was poured out, but filled up by the end of the weekend. So you can pray with us as we move towards how this will develop.
We have also been hosting the Graf family at our house as they search for a house/ministry center here in the Lisbon area. It's been a crazy, wild, fun time having their 6, plus our 4, plus a small cat and a large black lab all living under the same roof. We are benefiting from the wonderful cooking of lovly Laina. And the visiting with them has been wonderful. Yesterday their kids visited the Corner Stone Academy and spent the day going to school there, checking out their new school. They intergrated into the student community great. It felt as if they had been their all along. The Graf kids will make a beautiful additon to CSA.
Also we have been really enjoying the sun again. We can actually dry laundry out on the line again, instead of putting it Noah's room with a dehumidifier to dry it out. We took the Graf boys to the beach the other day and Noah and Kelton spent the afternoon jumping off the pier into the ocean. Oh thank you Jesus for friends for Noah. He is having a great time.
Next week we've got a million Christian Associates International staff flying into the Lisbon area for the annual leadership summit and on the 3rd of March Dave Hall our missions pastor from EFCC in California will be coming into town and staying for a few days. And then...who knows. If there is anything else going on that I should be telling you about, right now I just can't remember it. Stay tuned to this Bat channel for more Bat information, and Be Blessed 24/7

The Pink House Next Door

2009-02-16T01:17:00.000-08:00

This picture is two years old and doesn't really show the pink house next door very well, but it's the only picture have in my file right now. The reason I wanted to show you this house is because this house is where we are going to have our weekend of prayer this weekend. Instead of a 24/7 prayer room we are going to have a 24/7 House of Prayer. The house will have a prayer room, a worship living room, art rooms, and be open all weekend to anyone who wants to check it out.
So I have a request, will you please pray for this house and our community this weekend? We are not only going to be doing this House of Prayer, but we are also having a ton of leadership from our mission coming into town, plus we will have a couple from the USA coming to look at our community and the school to see if they might want to come teach and be a part of our team. Oh and did I mention that we have all the normal school, house, church planting stuff to do in the midst of all of this? AHHHHHH!
But let me say this, even with the big AHHHHHH!, I am expectant of what God will do in the midst of all this. There is something bubbling here and it is filled with the Holy Spirit. There is movement and I believe I am blessed to be a part of it. So please pray for us and with us, and Be Blessed

My Strength has been Faithened

2009-02-02T03:22:00.000-08:00

I know, where the heck have I been. Well I have been here, but I've barely been keeping my nose above water for the last month. It seems like this life is never going to just stabilize. In a way I'm really glad about that because something in me hates the same old same old. But on the other hand it would be nice to figure out how thing are going to function so I could get a little rhythm going. I am hoping that we have hit a period of smoother sailing for a period of time.

This last month has been a time of being in the refiners fire. And baby did He have that thing kicked up to full blast. There were a couple of times I was sure I was just going to be completely melted away. It was intense. Having come out of the other side of it I can say my strength has been faithened. (That was a type-o but I'm gonna keep it like that because I like it.)

Here's a few thoughts I had after I cooled down:
1. I'm a mess. (I thought by 40 I would have it together.)
2. So I'm a mess, I like me.
3. Other people like too.
4. Other people don't have to like me. (But it's OK if they do.)
5. I am stronger than that stupid lying little voice in my head.
6. God is better at being faithful that I am. (Thank God)
7. Why am I amazed when prayer works?
8. Cooking's an artistic outlet and can be fun. (Does that seem random in this list? It's not for me)
9. It's one thing to know there will be trials and another to live them out.
10. Life is the whole pie, not just a slice.

So I'm back blogging (Thanks Mo and Wit) and maybe your there, or maybe not, but what ever the case, I'm going to keep on keeping on. I am going to stick my face in the pie of life and continue to be some kind of mess until He perfect me. (And you can shut-up little nasty voice that's trying to keep me from sticking my whole face in!)
Enjoy the journey, Be Blessed and get some Key Lime up your nose.

A Christmas Feasting Thought

2008-12-21T03:16:00.000-08:00

This morning I was thinking about what we had talked about and shared at our Matrix Christmas Feast last night. Scott encouraged us all to keep Jesus in the center of our Christmas season. A great reminder. We had a fun Christmas feast of eating and drinking that many believers have partaken of, in some fashion, for most of our lives. During the reading of the Christmas story I was reminded that our savior was born into a lower status household. That He was not a person of wealth, or power. And that He truly was an alien in a foriegn land. So this morning when I was reading through Zechariah chapter 7 and I came across this, it struck me pretty powerfully;

Then the word of the Lord Almighty came to me: "Ask all the people of the land and the priests, 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted?' And when you were eating and drinking were you not feasting for yourselves?"

And further down,

"This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.'

I looked at this and I thought about the African men living here as aliens, selling their nic-nacks down by the beach. I thought about the orphans with HIV living at Casa Sol. I thought about the fragile little old ladies that I see walking down the cobblestone streets with their groceries. I thought of the homeless I see around Cascais and I wondered, do I remember Jesus when I see the least of these? Is my Christmas about feasting for me, or truly feasting for Jesus? Have I lived out the gospel during this Christmas season or did I go into auto-pilot and just start doing what I have always done for so many seasons? Yes, I have remembered that it is the birth time of Jesus. But I have to ask myself, 'Have I heard the words of the Lord proclaimed through the earlier prophets?' Zech 7:7

I know that there is no condemnation in Jesus, but I also know that as I wander along the narrow path ahead of me there are people that I can either become involved with or I can step over. So as we approach the season of Christmas may we as followers of the Christ truly make Christmas a time of feasting that is for Jesus. May they know us by our Love. And May You Be Blessed in Doing This.

The Remains of the Day or (Fire in the Attic)

2008-12-13T10:33:00.000-08:00

Well here is our story. Last night Eden had a girl friend stay the night. They wanted to go up to the attic and hang out, so we let them. Noah went up with them and they talked him into getting the space heater from his room.
Flash to this morning. After getting up and starting coffee, I took Patches the dog for a walk to go to the bathroom. As we returned and entered the building I thoght I smelled a burnt plastic smell. When I got up to our flat I was sure I smelled something. It wasn't coming from any of the other flats. Right then I remembered that the kids were in the attic last night. I ran up there to check if the smell was coming from there. When I opened the door a wall of heat and thick smoke was in the air. We had a fire somewhere! I couldn't see a thing because the smoke was to thick, so I ran down stairs to grab a flash light. Running into the house I yelled "Paula, theres a fire! Where's the flash light? We have a fire up stairs!" Then I ran back up with the flash light.
As I rounded the corner to the attic again the smoke was heavier than before. I could hardly see a thing in there. I took a deep breath and plunged in to see what was burning. As I entered I could see that the area where the bed was was glowing orange through the smoke. We had a fire about three feet by three feet burning in it. My heart exploded and my mind whirled. We were going to burn to the ground was my first thought, then I thought I've got to put this out. There were people in the building. We had to call the Bombieros, the Fire Dept. I turned to run back down stairs and remembered that opening a door can feed a fire. So I shut the door.
When I got back down to the flat Paula, Eden, Noah, Deni, the cat and the two dogs were headed out. I grabbed my phone and tried to call the Bombieros but the number didn't work. I figured out later that I had dialed the wrong number. The emergency number here in Portugal is 112 not 911 and I think I dialed 211. Anyhow lucky for me that our friends down stairs at the photo copy shop called.
I ran down stairs to see if Antonio, the owner of the photo shop, had a fire extinguisher and he did. I ran back up to the attic trying to pull the pin from the extinguisher. It was not so easy. I stopped and banged the thing out and then took a breath to head in and hit the bed with a blast from the extinguisher.I was probably pretty careless, because I just threw the door open and rushed in. The smoke was so thick I couldn't see my hand infront of my face. I couldn't even see the fire. But I knew where the bed was and I hit it with the chemical fire extiguisher. The heat rushed up and the smoke burned my eye, but I knew that I had blasted the fire from the hissing sound.
Now however my chest felt like it was going to explode becuase I had been running up and down stairs and my heart was pumping adrinalie into my system in huge doses. I needed air. I had to get out of there. I turned to go and it was almost as black behind me as in front. Just a slight yellow glow from the light coming through the door. I need clean air, not this putrid plastic smelling smoke. I bolted for the door and the smoke poured out with me. I could barely see from all the smoke. Even the stairs were heavy with smoke to the point where it was hard to see. But there was a small window where I could stick my face out. I jammed my face to the opening and blew the stale air from my lungs sucking back mostly clean air. And then I cried out to Jesus for help with this. I was scared and all I could imagine was the whole building consumed in an inferno.
From the window I could see the Bombieros pulling up infront of the house. I headed down and found my self standing in the rain as swarms of voulunteer fire fighters buzzed up and down the stairs to save the day. It was cold. My neighbors were kind. I was lucky and so blessed that we were all safe. My wife, the little girl staying the night, our kids, and the pets. All safe. No matter what was lost, the important things were safe.
In the end the attic was messed up really badly. The bed was gone. The walls were covered in soot. The hall and attic stink like burnt plastic. Our landlords couch was ruined and proably most of the stuff up there will need to be gotten rid of. But on the other had we were so protected. Our house is completely smoke free and liveable. You would never know that there was a fire right above us. And there was very little up in the attic that was a great value, so thank you Jesus.
I've put some picture below for you viewing pleasure. Be Blessed
This is the view towards the door way. That's Terri, Zephne' and Paula looking at the damage. We have a great community of belivers who showed up to see if there was anything they could do for us.

That was a bed. We've had a number of guest stay the night there. The feathers were a blanket.

More bed, blankets, and burned up furniture.

I look like a coal miner because of running in and out of the attic trying to put out the fire.

Oh What a Night (Live Blog)

2008-12-05T10:32:00.000-08:00

Ok so it's not a great picture, but this is my kitchen right this moment. Those are "Greek Gods" you're looking at. Guess what the high schoolers are studying right now at Corner Stone Academy?
So right now we've got the "Squirl Nut Zippers" blasting their Christmas CD on the surround sound and there is a whole bunch of groovin and waltzing going on in the living room. There is the heavenly smells of garlic and onions floating through the house from the kitchen and my neighbors are peeking up at my flat wondering what kind of craziness is going on up here. Earlier we all walked down to my local grociers and butchers, in "Greek God' to buy the fixins for some simi-greekish food. I'll see how they all treat me next time i'm there. Everyone seemed to enjoy it.
I have been so waiting for a night like tonight. A house full of young people in costumes, having fun, laughing and living in community together. What a great way to start the Christmas season. May you Be Blessed this Christmas Season

So Much Thanks

2008-11-28T02:38:00.000-08:00

BUYING FRUITS AND NUT FROM A NAZARE STREET VENDER

You know it easy to be full of thanks on those warm sunny days when you have nothing to do but enjoy life. It's easy to say thank you when things are going my way. It's easy to count it all joy when time are good. But that is not the case a lot of the time. In fact it might be the case less than half the time in my life.
Every year this day of Thanksgiving comes around for America. And every year I have to stop and take a look at my life and think about being Thankful. I can imagine that with the economic situation in America this year there were a lot of people that were thinking about what they had to be thankful for this year. I hope that even if this has been a difficult season for you or your family, that you found something to be thankful for.
Our family had one of those hard life moments the day before Thanksgiving. While at the Corner Stone Academy, putting on an event called "Africa Day", we recieved a phone call from the states. A phone call from the states at 10:00 am is not good news most of the time. It was not good news. Paula's 102 year old grand father had pass away. And so we went into the Thanksgiving holiday under a dark cloud. We knew this would probably happen while we were over here, but it's harder to live it than imagine it. Roy lived a good life and at 102 he was probably ready to go hang out with Jesus. So that part was sad but not the hardest part. I think what was hardest for Paula was that she wasn't going to get to be with her family during this time. At the holidays, right after her grand daddy had passed away. And so we are left with that thought again. What do you do with thanksgiving when your not feeling all so thankful. Well here's a few things we are thankful for.

Thank you for keeping us afloat and supporting us even when the economy isn't doing great.
Thank you 5th grade 9:30 class for the care package that we recieved before Thanksgiving.
Thank you for the e-mails of encouragement.
Thank you that my friend Suz has gotten a clean bill of health and the cancer is in remission.
Thank you for the Hardy family who came over and shared Thanksgiving with us.
Thank you that we have a church community that really shares all things in common.
Thank you for my family and their health.
Thank you that the weather has been so nice for so long.
Thank you that Grand Daddy is hanging out with Jesus.
Thank you for the euro/dollar being closer in exchange rate.
Thank you for this crazy life.

I could go on and on, but I won't. Please keep praying for us and know that we are Thankful for you and will miss you this holiday season. Be Thankful and Be Blessed

Glory

2008-11-05T00:50:00.000-08:00

This last weekend the core leadership team for the Lisboa Matrix traveled up to Nazare for our yearly leadership retreat. It was a time to gather together for work, fun and healing. We went with the expectation of growing together and looking at the direction we have been headed in as a church. What we discovered was our Glory

This weekend we looked at ourselves through the Father's eye. Who am I in your eye Father. How do you see me? There is a mythic reality that John Eldridge talks about in his book "Waking the Dead" that deals with the deep truth about who we are. It's a truth that sounds to good to be true. It is a truth that sleeps in us. A truth that must be awakened. A truth about our heart. It is a truth that calls us to be transformed from death to life. This truth comes in three parts.

1.Your Heart is Good.

2. You are in a Battle for your Heart the Heart's of others.

3. You have a Glory and that Glory is needed.

We entered into this search for our Glory this weekend. Zac gentlely walked us into the the shadowed waters of our heart. He asked us to listen for the Father's thought's about us. Spoke about Ireanus' quote "The Glory of God is man fully alive" Strectched us to think about how we think about our heart. Think about the fact that scripture says God has given us a new heart. And then he sent us out to listen.

I didn't have an explosive burning bush experiance, but there were things that I heard, felt though about and received. When we returned we shared and listened to how the Father might have shared or spoken to each other. And then I started to enter into my Glory.

Showing your Glory can be unnerving and almost embarassing, but it is how we enter into a full life in/with Jesus. As we processed our Glory and I asked, "Father, how do you see me? What is my Glory?" I remembered two seperate instances where people had spoken to me or had given me verses about a certain way they saw me. This is what they said, (get ready it really is out of this world), you are like David. WHAT!?!

The first time Scott Frazer gave me that Glory I thought, wow cool. Wish I was David. I mean King David rocks! But let's be real I am me. The second time was this summer at our CONNECT time for CAI. I had someone I respect a whole lot tell me. "You worship like David." Boy that felt good, and that's how I feel when I worship, but I know me. I'm a fake. I wish I was David, but let's get real. But it felt good to hear it. Then this weekend I realized that what is needed is my Glory and that my Glory is the new name my Father gave me. DAVID! Warrior, Poet, Lover and King.

Do I sound like I'm over the top here. Is it arrogent to think God would name me David? Is this really my Glory? Am I truley "A man after God's own heart" (I almost typed I don't know) but YES! I am. And I am going to dance, fight, pray, love, and create with the same heart of passion that God put into David. I am going to scream from the roof tops that my Glory, your Glory are needed in this epic battle. I am going to call out the broken hearted, and the chained and set them free from their shadowed hearts. I am going to reveal their Glory so that we can see them transformed. See them transformed like everyone who came into contact with Jesus. For it was not a yolk of slavery that Jesus came to bring, but freedom and life. Abundant life. Transformed life. You might have been Peter the fisherman, but now you are The Rock and I'll build my church on you. You might have been John, but now I call you Son of Thunder. You might have been Saul the murdering one, but now I call you Paul the Apostol. Jacob, you are Isreal. It all sounds so grand, to good to be true, but it's the mythic reality of being a child of God. A friend of Jesus.

Be what you were created to be. Let the Glory of the one who lives in you shine. Let all the world see it, that they might honor the Father who has given you your Glory. Fight for each others Glory, for each ohters hearts.

Be Blessed and Live in Your Glory

So Busy, But So Thankful

2008-10-26T09:03:00.000-07:00

The weeks are flying by and we are flapping just as hard as we can. Sometimes being a Wild Goose is a rush and other times it just feels like we are in a rush.
I want to have a healthy rhythem of life. I want to enjoy these last few sunny days before it get's cold and wet. I want to stop and listen to the story that Noah has thought up in his head. I want to look at the picture of Nick Jonas glued on Edens school folder, that she wants to show me. I want to walk on the beach with my wife. I want to sit in Gods presence and worship. I want my beloved to have more free time. I'm waiting. It will come. It's already starting.

Here's somethings I'm thankful for this week.

1. A great family that loves each other.
2. The Matrix growing in healthy ways.
3. God re-lighting my heart to go deeper with Him again.
4. Denny and Maureen.
5. Paula's face not hurting today.
6. The Dollar getting stronger against the Euro.
7. Sun.
8. My journal that I read from 2 years ago.
9. Msking progress in the little things.
10. Getting the time to blog.

Here's my prayer for you...May the Lord Bless you and show Himself to you at a deeper level. May you hear His voice today, and may He say that he couldn't Love you any more than he already does. Be Blessed, Keep Flying, and Be Loved

I Don't Like it One Bit

2008-10-16T04:18:00.000-07:00

The cat, Tiger Lily, has lost her mind. She is tearing around the house like she has just smoked crack or something. Down the hall, through the kitchen, aross the dog (who doesn't like a one bit either), and up the side of the leather couch. I repeat, I don't like it one bit, because the couch is starting to get these like cat claw spots in the leather. I DO NOT LIKE IT! I WILL NOT LET YOU CLAW THE COUCH!

This is why my dad never let us have cat's in the house. (Or dogs or hamsters, or horse. Well maybe we did have a horse in the house once, but that's another story) Why did we get this stupid, cute cat? Oh yes, now I remember, it was Eden's 12th birthday and we didn't have any idea what to get her and she found a tiny, scared,free kitten at a pet store. I should have known something was up, FREE from a Pet Store. It was a set up. And now I am paying for it with our leather couches. We can't have anything nice (Pout)

But wait...(Hold on I have to keep the dog from eatting the cat...ok i'm back.She ran up the back of the couch to get away)

Like I said, wait grumpy dad guy, take a step back. Take a deep breath, get some perspective. How much would I pay to see my little girl light up with joy that she gets a birthday kitten? How much would I pay for a warm little ball of fur in my lap when it's chilly outside and I'm sitting reading a book? How much would I pay to listen to my son laugh til he almost wets his pants because the cat is tickling his foot by licking it? How much would I pay to have a little purring thing crawl between P and I during the night and then to have P feel special because the kitten wanted to sleep with her? (Especially when P has been so tired and blue with this new work load) How much would I pay to see my family happy?

Let's see, we got the two leather couches for 400 euro and if you figure that appearance is only half their value and function is the other half, then I can only look at the damage that Tiger Lily is doing to the appearance, because they still seem to function. So let's say she's killing half the value of the couch so, 200 Euro of damage. Would I pay 200 Euro to bring a whole bundle of joy to the fam? You betcha!

Wow! I got a new attitude, for today, or at least right now. (I still wish she wouldn't run up the side of the dang couch) Ah well like AA says, one day at a time. Be Blessed and Let the cat run on the couch today. (Even if it's just once :)

Giving It All

2008-10-13T11:00:00.000-07:00

I am so proud of my beautiful bride. She has been putting her heart and soul into her high schoolers and I can't believe how well she is doing. She would probably tell you that she is not doing as well as she would like, but she blows me away with her teaching.
For example last week she took her class to the beach for two days and nights so that they could explore ancient civilizations. On the first day they were a stone age tribe. They built fires, gutted fish for their lunch, cooked rabbit for dinner and engaged with the idea of people living in a culture before agricultre or animal husbandry. Day two they had root vegetables, grains, plus goat. (They had advanced and enjoyed their meals much more) On the last day they were in modern civilazation and went to the Dempsey house to shower and have pancakes for breakfast. Then they went to the mall and watch "Voyage to the Center of the Earth". It was a long three days for everyone, but I believe an experiance that they will never forget.
It's a new season with P working full time at the school, but we are starting to get our rhythem of life down again. With school taking so much time it has been hard to do much else. But things are evening out and the kids are happy. There is so much to be thankful for from the school actually functioning, to the relationships with the 6 high schoolers she is teaching. It will be interesrting to see how this year goes. Keep us in prayer as we press into this. Be Blessed, Pass it On

Seeking the Truth- Our story (Part 8)

2008-09-28T20:32:00.000-07:00

Where to start...?
Things were going along pretty smooth for a change. We were in love and the baby was beautiful. Not a bad start for two crazy kids transitioning from hippy life to the real world. I was working for my dad in the honey bee buisness, which for a change wasn't killing me. And P was able to stay home and care for the baby. You know that place where everything is new and clean and you were able to make a break from the past and get a fresh start? Well that's where we were at. Paula was happy. I was happy and the baby was happy. Even our room mate Bradly, who had moved down from Orcas Island to work for my dad, was happy. Sure we still had a little wooden alter that I had built in the living room. But we were all happy.

It was a simple life. Get up and go to work. Feed and bath the baby. Cook dinner. We didn't have to much, but compaired to what we had just months before, we wer living large. My parents gave us their spare bed and P's mom had bought us a nice used car. My work was just down the road from our house and I could pop home for lunch from time to time. I loved feeding the baby girl on my lunch break.

At night we would get the baby to bed and talk about our lives. What did we want to be when we grew up? What was life about? What was our spiritual direction? It felt like we even had been given a new oppertunity to investigate the sacred/religious. I don't know how it all took place but we decided to read the great spiritual teachings. The Koran, the Bagavagita, the Bible...etc. It sounded like a great plan. I have no idea what the plan exactly was, but it was a great plan. I suppose the plan was to discover the truth. And as I have come to learn if you seek the truth, the truth has a way of being revealed to you.

One day while P was at home, a couple of Mormon boys came by the house. Wel lactually they came to our neighbors house and she saw them, so she ran over and told them what we were doing and invited them to come on by and share their stuff with us. The boys said they would come back. (They never did) We were going to find out what these guys believed. I'm not sure if it was that same day or a few day later that P was going out to take a walk with the baby, but as she came up our drive way she ran into that really nice Terri lady from the resturant I had worked at. Now if you remember, she was a pastors wife and she and P had made friends while I had worked at the resturant and there was the baby that P had been pregnant with. Terri happened to be jogging by because, as it turns out they lived just down the street from us. P and Terri started talking and I have no idea how the conversation went the way it did, but P shared how we were re-reading the great spitiual works and how the Mormon boys were coming over at some point and so forth and so on. ( I can picture Terri's face as she was listening to this) Anyhow, Terri say to P that this Sunday evening there are going to be a whole bunch of people who I had worked at the resturant with coming over to her house to have coffee and cake and talk about God and the Bible and ask any questions they had about that stuff. Did we want to come?

At their house we meet Scott her Pastor husband. He's this super tall guy who likes to surf. And Andrew thier son. Everyone from the resturant is there and we have coffee and desert and talk about God and ask questions. I remember one that I asked about Energy points in the body and how that related to the bible. Scott had no idea, but he said he'd see what he could find out. It was a nice night. A bunch of the stuff I had heard before, but that was ok. Scott proceeded to talk about stuff. I don't really remember what, but then some thing changed.

I remember, I was sitting on a bar stool at their counter listening to him. He must have been sharing about the power of Jesus to change our life andthen it was as if his words let something loose in me. That place in my heart, the center of my chest, awoke. It was like when you pour water over a dry sponge and it starts to swell and swell. I felt my soul move. The spirit came alive in me and I was sooooo caught off gaurd. Of course I didn't say anything to anyone, but I walked out of there shook. My world had been rocked. I had gone expecting to reject this Christian stuff, maybe learn a few things, have some desert, but this I had not expected.

At that time I was working for my dad, doing this repetetive job, in this super small, super hot/humid space. I was all by myself 8 hours a day with the work and my thoughts. And man was I thinking. I was thinking about what Scott had said about Jesus. I was thinking about what I thought about Jesus. I was thinking about what I had rejected and what it would mean to believe some of the things Scott had said. And even more I was thinking about the things Jesus had said. I was thinking about what it would look like to believe these things and I was thinking about how stupid I would look for believeing things had rejected for so long. I was thinking, and thinking and wrestling with God. Some one had left this old Amy Grant tape in the tape player where I was working and I listened to that. And I was thinking and I was wrestling with God and I was not working as much as I should have because I was thinking and wrestling with God...

And then it was clear. I was free. I knew. I had made a choice. A long time before, when I was a kid. I had choosen Jesus as my friend. And here he was still waiting. I was free to be who I was. I was free to be free. I was a...Christian. How long had I been pulling this weight, the guilt, this burden of destruction along with me and now I was free. Light as air. New. I couldn't wait to tell P. She was going to be so surprised.

A Whole Lot of Surprises or Head Lice Anyone?

2008-09-26T09:06:00.000-07:00

Oh the joy of surprises. (Gifts in the mail)
And of the shock of surprises. (Bugs on your head)

We almost made it through the second week of school with no events, until we discovered that one of the kids had head lice. We there by promptly started checking all the kids heads at school for lice. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, ... you've got to be kidding me, 11, 12...how about me? Check me. No way!
All being said and done more than half the school and some teachers had head lice. So we promptly closed the school til Monday. The good news is that there is an out break of head lice across Portugal right now. (That's what the paper said) Not that a lice out break is good news, but at least it wasn't just us. Lots of nit picking going on right now. I just shaved my head it's much easier to deal with that way.

But that is not what the above picture is all about. That is a little piece of the gift package of LOVE that we just recieved from the Young Adults Team that came over to Serve the City here in Portugal. And it couldn't have come at a better time. See this last week I have been tired and fighting the blues. Sometimes I hit this wall and feel useless, like the darkness around is getting the best of me, getting to heavy. I was sharing some of this at our team meeting yesterday. We've been so busy for so long and I feel like we're paddling up stream a lot. It's good to have a group of people around you who know you and love you. And that's what our team is. But even then you have these days.

So because of lice we have been trapped inside for three day washing everything and on top of that, this morning I sent Paula to Philidelphia (for the weekend) to pick up the school books for CSA. So i'm just feeling tired and blue, when the door buzzer rang unexpectedly. Who could that be? I don't want to see anyone and my house is a mess. The postman? What's he doing here?
SURPRISE! Three packages from the good ol' US of A. Three package from the people who came here to work with us. No way! Cool! Look kids, letter's, books, candy, Halloween Oreos, STARBUCK!, Tapitio, games and more. I wish P was here to get to open this with us.

And then they came. The chills. The tight chest and tears. Stress welling up and being released. The feeling of love. Memories, faces and more thoughts. Am I this stressed out. My kids faces so excited to get these little gift. Tootsie Rolls. Little round chocolate like things that don't taste anything like chocolate and are so yummy. My Daughters face filled with joy as we pull out the third bag of Tootsie Rolls. My son saying can we play the game now, oh no way it's multi-player. Oh cool all the books. And My heart might pop. How can such a little bit be so hugh?

I am sure that some one was praying for me today, after yesterdays team meeting and I know that the package was sent way before yesterday, but I believe that God answered today's prayers when that package was mailed on the 19th of Sept., because I needed it today. Thanks you guys and gals. It feels good to be loved and shead a few tears in the process. I am Blessed, We are Blessed, you Be Blessed too.

The First Week of School at CSA

2008-09-22T10:20:00.001-07:00

I was going to put this photo furthur down but it ended up here and I'm not moving it. This is the drama/art room. Were going to leave it rustic like this. The kids and I like it that way. What kids you ask? The students at Corner Stone Academy. Yes we have students. This room also doubles as one of the changing rooms for the kids at lunch. They like to go swimming in the pool at lunch time. Yes we have a great big pool. Isn't that cool. Student and a pool! Keep reading and check out more pictures below.

It has been a crazy busy these last three weeks. I haven't even had time to think about anything except opening this school.Who would have thought that we could start a school in three months, but it happened. The first week has come and gone. We have 21 students and 5 full time teachers. The Lisboa Matrix kicked in hard with lots of service time to get this thing pulled together.

P is teaching high school and has 6 students. I get to teach drama and run the Truth for Youth time for the k-6th and EPIC for the Jr High/High School. Truth for Youth and EPIC are our spiritual development times once a week. It's so exciting to see things going. We still have more to do, but one step at a time.

So this is what the new school looks like. (Looking down the hall from up stairs.)

Fresh flowers to brighten up the entery way.

The high school room. (Emily, Haley, Christien, and Thiago)

The first grade room. (Liz, Lucas, and Josiah)

The 5th and 6th grade room. (Carie, Noah, Clara, Dani, and Olah)

What a blessing to see this thing going. Be Blessed and Study Hard. (More to come)

My...Thoughts?

2008-09-03T10:13:00.000-07:00

I have writers block. There is so much I want to say, but it all jumbled together in a mess of thoughts, feelings amd emotions. I don't know where to start. It's this constant noise, this stream of thought that just keeps going through my head.

It sounds something like this;
"How's that news..what news?...The news letter? I need to write a news letter...did I send the last one to everyone...what was it about?...That TV is so loud...What am I going to write for this one?...And why's the dog crying at me...He probably needs to pee. Oh, man my back is sore. What time was I supposed to be at the school to paint tomorrow? I wonder...man i'm hungry. What time is Paula getting back from the school today?...We need to...what was I going to write about...I think I need to get a blog out, it's been a few days...This is a stupid blog. I shouldn't post this... Why is the dog cry?... This blog is really lame! There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus...Corner Stone Academy... How in the world are we going to get all of this stuff done. I'm excited about teaching drama next year... Please stop crying dog, but don't pee in the house. I should be a better dog owner. ..I am going to post this! What am I going to write for our news letter?...Are we going to get everything done for the school? I need to call my mom. Ok...ok I need to spell check this. What are we having for dinner? Ok I'll take you to the bathroom!"

Be Blessed

Two Years Later

2008-09-03T05:41:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was our two year anniversary here in Portugal. Above you can see a little photo journey from then to now. A lot has changed and a lot is the same with our family. We are all older. (I turned 40 this summer) Some of us have longer hair and some have shorter hair. (And some of us even have tan legs) As always we are on a wild adventure with God. We do not know what He will call us to next but we like it that way and we will be listening.

As we prepare for this next part of the journey we would ask you to pray for our endurance. Starting this school is all consumming. (The school was gthe latest call we recieved) Our family needs your prayers. As soon as we are not putting in 14 hour day there I will get a blog up about what is happening at Corner Stone Academy. For now just know that in the last 3 months we have put a school together from scratch. If that wasn't a Big Hairy Audatious God Sized Goal then I don't know what is. Love to you all and Be Blessed (And why doesn't my spell check work on blogger any more. It's revealing a deep flaw:)

Happy Birthday Nana

2008-08-28T06:06:00.001-07:00

We have just returned from 4 days of camping near Setubal, a coastal area an hour from our house. After 6 weeks in the states, 2 teams from the states coming to serve for ServetheCity and a whole lot of preperation and travel in the midst of that, we needed a little family time alone.

Or camping trip was good for the soul. We swam in the freezing cold sea, collected shells, took a day trip to Evora (the old capital of Portugal), slept in tents, read books, and spent time filling up our families love tank. It's so easy to let yourself run on empty when you're doing this kind of work. We have a whole lot on the plate in front of us. The number one thing being the school that Paula will be teaching at next year. www.cornerstoneacademy.edu So it was important for us to take this time for ourselfs.

All that being said we were not around to celebrate a very special womans birthday. So, even though it's a little late, all four Wild Geese want to say, HAPPY BIRTHDAY NANA! We hope that it was a wonderful day for you. We all thought of you on your special day. Hope the next 29 are as good as the... last 29?

Happy Birthday all you August babies and Be Blessed

I Left You Hanging...Our Story (Part 7)

2008-08-23T04:11:00.000-07:00

When I last blogged our story things were starting to look better for Paula and myself. Love was restored and our little lives seemed to be headed in a better direction. My job at the resturant was going well. And Paula was beautiful as she grew rounder with our baby.

I had build her a little wood alter for our living room and she had placed all of her magical nic-nacs there. It was during this time that we really started to get to know each other. Up to this point we were just functioning out of the experiances we had had together for the last 5 months or so. It was a special time where together we started to learn what it meant to not just live for ourselves, but for others as well.

My time at the resturant was a step in our journey to Jesus. Because at this resturant, "150 Grand Cafe" I met a wonderful lady named Terri Last. She was the wife of a pastor. Now if you know Terri you know she is a lover of people and it doesn't matter who you are, or how out there you might be, she just loves you. To be honest with you I didn't see her like that at the time. What I saw was based on my preconsieved idea of someone who was a Christian and not only that but the wife of a pastor too. I mean I had gone to church once in awhile as a kid, I knew what Christians were all about. She was very sweet but nieve. The poor lady hadn't really been exposed to all the scum and wildness of the world. (Sex, drugs and rock-n-roll) Even so she was super nice. You just couldn't help but like her. And when she listened to you she really seemed to be interested and not judgmental.I really liked her. So did Paula. Paula would come and pick me up after work (we only had one car) and the two of them would sit around and chat while I finished my shift. They hit it off too because they are very similar people. I've got to say it was a very sweet time in our lives.

Once in awhile I would get the chance to work the dinner shift. That's where the real money was. The cool, wild thing was that when the doors would close and the customer were gone, the resturant/bar would transform into philosophical forum. That's when the conversation would turn to faith, God and the spirtual rhelm. In the cool blue glow of the vacant resturant/bars lights, we would all grab an after shift beer or glass of wine. As we sat there refilling salt and pepper shakers and folding napkins or just hanging around, we would fill the air with a buzz of thoughts, questions, and wise self taught answers about what we believed or didn't belive. It was the real deal. A safe place. Where we were a family. Letting our masks down a little. We struggled through the high stress of waiting tables together day in and day out. And when night fell we laughed, loved and longed together. But still we were alone.

But I wasn't alone. I had a lovely lady who was going to give birth our off-spring. Paula continued to come pick me up after my lunch shift and it was growing very near the time for the baby to be born. Now even though I liked my job, the people and the hours, I wasn't making enough money to really make ends meet. So with the baby on the door step, and the bills mounting my dad offered me a 2nd chance to work in the Honey Bee buisness with him. (It was more like a 30th chance because I don't know how many times I had quit working for him through the years. The long suffering of a fathers love. Thanks dad.) I accepted his offer. In August we had a baby girl whom we named Eden Rose, instead of Pagan Presley (that's another story) and I went to work for my dad in his Honey Bee buisness. Oh man was she beautiful. We decided to get married in February and moved into a little white house (no picket fence), just down the road from my parents, and not knowing it, just down the road from Scott and Terri Last. That sweet lady from the resturant and her pastor husband. Oh how things were about to change in ways we would never have expected.

Barbarians at the Gate (Of the School)

2008-08-20T05:15:00.000-07:00

WARNING: RIGHT NOW MY SPELL CHECK IS DOWN ON BLOGGER, SO MY SPELLING IS BARBERIC!

Barbarian is not usally a title that we hope to acheive. The picture of the barbaian in my head is the image of a brutal, dirty, uncivialized warrior. So why would anyone want to be a barbarian? Who would choose "The Barbarian Way?" Do we really want to stive to be barbarians? To call ourselves a barbarian tribe?

I have just finished Erwin McManus' book titled "The Barbarian Way, unleash the untamed faith within"
Quoteing from inside the front jacket,
"In The Barbarian Way, McManus calls you to return to the ancient, primal, and dangerous faith of Jesus and his early disciples. Let go of a sanitized Christianity and get back to the powerful, raw and ancient faith that chooses revolution over compromise, peril over saftey, and passion over lukewarm and watered-down religion. Christ's passion drove Him to the cross; the cross of Christ drives you to His passion. Take up the challenge of the 'barbarian way,' and your life will never be the same."

Wow! That's just what I want. That touched a place in my heart. In a nut shell it is what God is saying to me right now. As you know we are in the process of getting this school, Corner Stone Academy, going by September 15th. Now if we were living a safe domesticated faith we would have said no way. This school thing is way to big of a beast to take on. It's unrealistic. But evertime we would try to walk away from it God would put it back in our laps, so we took it on. We went to the river, picked out 5 smooth stones and took on this giant of a task. In human terms it is a ridiculus task, impossible, but who would have guessed that little David would win. Or that when Moses pointed his staff at the waters the sea would part and the captives would cross through to dry land. Who would have even thought that Moses could have gotten Pharo to set the people free. Or that God would get His holy hands dirty by becoming human like us, and then sacrifice Himself for a bunch of dorks like us. And that through that barbaric sacrifice He would take care of all our junk. The most foolish actions, paying out the most amazing results.

We are barbarians at the school gates, making foolish choices in the eye's of the world. We have been working out our salvation through the development of this school, pursuing the barbarian way. As McManus says, "The land of promiss was not a land free from dangers. The milk and honey they were promised awaited them amid a land of giants." For the last few weeks I have been feeling that exact thing. When 12 spies were sent into the promised land to check it out, 10 of them reported back there were giants in the land, but 2 of them said sure there are giants, but the fruit in enourmouse. The land of promise was not a land free from danger. (They should have listened to the 2 not the 10 becuase they didn't trust God and ended up spending the next 40 years in the desert. )

So what shall I do? I want to live by faith not sight. I want to choose to "follow the One whose barbarian path lead Him to the brutality of the Cross." I want to face the giants in the land and see the enourmous fruit. I want to let go of a sanitized Christianity and get back to the powerful, raw, and ancient faith. I want to dance like David with all my might, half naked, before the Lord our God. I want to never be the same again. I want to live the Barbarian Way. Be Barbaric and Be Blessed

Happy Birthday Baby Girl

2008-08-18T07:17:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful girl. I have been so blessed to be the father of this young lady. Today she turned 12 years old and she is well on her way to growing-up. (To fast) She is smart, kind, pretty and full of life, just to name a few of her awesome traits.
She spent the morning working at Casa Sol, the house for orphans with HIV, helping Serve the City clean, paint and do what ever was needed. (Check her out welding a few blogs back) Tonight we will have a small party for her. Princess I pray that the next 12 years will be as wonderful for you as the first 12 were. Be Blessed Sweetheart and you all Be Blessed too

You've Gotta be Kidding Me

2008-08-16T07:37:00.000-07:00

Why do things like, the car not starting on the one day you're supposed to take your friends around Lisbon and sight see happen. It just seems so unfair. I walk out this morning to get the car ready to go to the city with our volunteers and the key will not go all the way into the ignition, no matter how hard I try. So what choice do I have, I have to stay home and fix the dang car because we need it the rest of the week. (No, that is not my car. It a car I took a picture of while back in the states, but I would like it to be my car)

So I stand there thinking, I don't have the money to pay for a mechanic to fix this thing. Just looking at the car cost who knows how much and I'll have to pay to get it towed to the mechanic. So what to do? Bright idea! I will try and fix it myself. I figure all I need to do is pull the ignition out and go get a new one, which will probably cost me 20 euro to do, but I figure I can swing that.

But car stuff is never as easy as that. First I had to remove the cover around the steering column. Not to bad. A little tight but do-able. Then I had to figure out a way to remove the ignition. That became a problem. I have no idea how you remove an ignition from a 1991 Peugeot 505 station wagon. They're like little tanks. So after a whole lot of deep breathing and a lot of struggle, I come to a halt, but I can't give up. I have to get the car running and it's going to be today because I do not have any other time to do this. So that's it. It's decided, I'm going to figure out a way to hot wire this sucker.

When I was in high school I had to hot wire my orange, tiger stripped, 1972 Datsun pick-up because I lost the key. So I have hot wiring experience but this time it has to be better than the last time. Last time I used a hair pin to hold the wires together and every time I went around a sharp curve it would fall off and the truck would start to stall out if I didn't reach under the dash and grab the wires to hold them together until I could get the hair pin back on. Go figure.

So this time I spend some time trying to figure out how to hot wire the old Peugeot and I succeed. You just shove all the wires together and it start, but then you have to remove the hot one that goes to the starter or it keeps cranking over even after the thing has started. Once I had that solved I had to go buy some switches to turn the thing on and off. I will not bore you with the adventure of looking all over Cascais for something that would work for switches. I would have liked to have gotten some toggle switches, but I couldn't find any. So I settled for these lamp switches that I thought would work. As long as they aren't to light and don't melt on me. We will see.

I hurried home with my treasure and got right to work and after a few hour I had a 91 Peugeot with 3 lamp switches installed under the steering column that will do everything you need to start your car, make the radio work, run the lights and turn the wipers on and off. And all for under 10 euro. If I don't fry the electrical system in the car I will be very happy and proud of my hack auto mechanics. Gentlemen, (And ladies too) start your engines. Be Blessed

Watching the Sparks Fly

2008-08-15T11:59:00.000-07:00

Here are a few picture of our service day for Serve the City. We were out at Casa Sol, the orphans home for kids with HIV in Lisbon, doing more repairs and fixing a few things up. Check out all the chicks working those power tools. I just love the shot of Eden welding while all the dads watch with grins on their faces. There is just something about an 11 year old girl welding that brings a smile to your face. Serve with a passion and Be Blessed

Arrivals and Departures

2008-08-15T00:47:00.000-07:00

When your living life as a Wild Goose on the field, you start to realise that the migration of people you love will become a natural part of the rhythm of your life, a painful reality. You also realise that you can't say good-bye over and over and over again or pretty soon you will have given your heart away bit by bit in little pieces, and so you don't say good-bye. You say see you soon.

But this time I couldn't help it. I had given a piece of my heart away to the Gregg family and they have taken it with them to Morocco. I am sure that this is the right move for them and yet it is still painful. They were such a joy to have around day to day here in Portugal. Their hopefulness was contagious. Their joy was inspirational. Linda Gregg is a beautiful, warm woman with a heart as big as Europe. She was an important part of seeing this school getting started even as she prepared to launch into the unknown. Jason Gregg is a rock, steady and cool in every situation. Leading his family with a tender warriors heart. The Lisboa Matrix will miss them, all 6 of them. They are the Jesus Gypsy's. Check out their blog on my blog roll to the right. I had to put this wonderful picture of Ezra up for you to see. That smile is what all of their hearts are like. Ezzy, Elisa, Sophia, and Elianah (sorry if I spelled her name wrong Linda) we will miss you dearly.

And so I am off with the teams that have arrived from the states, to serve the city of Lisbon with a little hole in my heart that is shaped like the Gregg family. Be Blessed Gregg's and we will be blessed too. See you soon.

We Serve

2008-08-13T01:22:00.000-07:00

On Sunday we had two teams from EFCC, our sending church in California, arrive here in Portugal to do service project with us. The Sun Deo team is made up of 10 lovely ladies and a wonderful young man. Then there is the Post-college team, 7 women and 3 men who all slept in my living room Sunday night. Can you say slumber party?

This picture is of the Sun Deo team after a long day of cleaning, trash removal, weed pulling, and brush clearing. These gals put their hearts and souls into working all morning to prepair the surrounding area to get painted on Wed., then they headed off to do pampering projects ( hair cutting, nail painting, eye brow plucking, you get the picture ) for some Portuguese women. A very productive first day I would say.

Yesterday we headed into Lisbon to prayer walk. We spent the morning walking through Parque das Nacoes, ( Park of the Nations ) praying for an area where some friends of ours are doing out reach. It was a good time of prayer and bonding. From there we headed over to old Lisbon, had a traditional Portuguese lunch, talked about the spiritual dynamic of the area we were in and finished our day with a prayer walk through the city.

And now today we have just finished painting the afore mentioned wall. Plus they did two more pampering project. I'm only mentioning the Sun Deo team because they have been the team I have been working with. Paula, on the other hand, has been out at a camp for Aldiea SOS orphans at the beach with the Post-college team. They have been watching the Jesus video, doing crafts and having an over all wonderful time it sounds like. At least that is the evening report I have been getting from P each night as we have a quick meal and then fall into bed.

Oh and did you notice that the exchange rate has dropped some? I did. I was down to 1.48 today. What a blessing for us. You Be Blessed too.

Blogging at CONNECT

2008-08-06T10:54:00.000-07:00

This is my friend Nelly. She is a wonderful woman and an awesome blogger. (Hello said Jenelle to the right) It was her job to put together a blog for our Christian Associates CONNECT conference.

I had the privilege of being one of the blogger's for the week. (You'll find my stuff near the bottom) If you would like to get a taste of what was going on in Hungry this last week and the journey we were on, you can go to this link, http://caiconnect.wordpress.com and take a look. There are some blog high lights, a few simple videos and and all the audio files from the speakers. Take a peek and enjoy. Maybe it will speak to your heart. It did mine.

Be Blessed

2008-08-04T06:39:00.000-07:00

So finally we are home. (Actually we returned just over two weeks ago, but I flew to Hungry right away so I feel like I just returned home, after two months.)

The weather here in Portugal is warmand sunny. I wish I could just kick back and enjoy it, but there are about 5000 things we have to do.

Here are the top 10 things we have on our plate.

10. Pay bills

9. Go to the market and get food.

8. Fix the leaky faucet in the kitchen.

7. Clean the car out and check all the fluids.

6. Get the house ready for the team from the states that will be staying here Sunday night.

5. Wrapping up all the details for Serve the City.

4 . Work on all the details for our new school, Corner Stone Academy.

3. Write Thank You notes to everyone who helped us out or hosted us while in the states.

2. Blog (I get to check this one off)

1. Not freak out!

I want to blog about this last week at out Christian Associates conference, CONNECT, but I think I will just have you check out the Christian Associates website. I know we are going to have reports from bloggers there in the very near future. (I happen to be one of the bloggers that got to give their view point) So as soon as it there I will let you know. Ok, I have to go grab a couch for the new school right now, and put some minutes on our phones, so I have to run. Pray for us, please. I can feel the stress level eating me all ready. Be Blessed and Enjoy Life

Home Assignment is...

2008-07-09T15:18:00.000-07:00

Life on home assignment is all about connecting, and reconnecting.
It's about hope.
It is about people you love and people your going to know.
It is about time and the lack of it.
It's about eating and eating some more.
It's about gaining weight.
It's about saying hello.
It's about meetings and more meetings.
It's about say good-bye.
It's about older parents and their health.
It's about the two years that have gone by and how big every one's kids will be in two more.
It's about emotions that swing from extreme to extreme.
It's about not getting to sleep.
It's about being wiped out.
It's about getting fired up.
It's about fear of what you haven't done, or what opportunity you might have missed.
It's about getting over it.
It's about surprises that you didn't expect. (Both good and bad ones)
It's about the kids being done with it all.
It's about you being over it.
It's about God being faithful when your done with it.
It's about prayer.
It's about vision.
It's about listening.
It's about a fresh wind and a fresh fire.
It's about getting excited again about what God has you doing.
It's about 'Starbucks'. (Oh don't roll your eye's. So I like 'Starbucks')
It's about trying to finding some time with God.
It's about the power of a believing community.
It's about changing your expectations and getting new ones.
It's about living in need.
It's about living in suitcases.
It's about living now.
It's about have more than you need.
It's about missing the dog back home.
It's about calling your host country your home.
It's about asking people to give.
It's about being humble as you receive.
It's about...

As I Sit in the Denver Ramada Inn

2008-06-22T21:22:00.000-07:00

I am getting ready to go to bed after having visited with my buddy Joel this evening. Joel and his family took us to The Cheese Cake Factory. We had a awesome visit. What a beautiful family. It was so great to see him. We've been friends for about 20 years. (No way!) We love you Kneedlers. Thanks for letting us living in your house for the last few days.

This morning we were introduced and shared briefly about Portugal with Foot Hills Community Church, one of our supporting churches. Very cool church. Very cool people. We really felt at home with them.

Ok you want to know about the picture. Well first let me say thanks Beth and Nathan. We had a blast. This picture was taken yesterday on the Royal Gorge River. We were treated to a wonderful white water rafting trip. If I could share with you the joy we felt doing this I would, but I can't put it in words.

It was an hour of bumpy, splashing, stick your head down into the on coming wave and paddle, whoa are we going under, WHOAAAAA YEAHHH!!!, kind of fun.

Before they let you go, there is all this scary "you could get hurt doing this" paper work to fill out and an unsettling "here's what to do if you end up under the boat" speech, plus there was the flipped over boat that we saw come rolling down the river before we launched. But none of that would deter the fearless crew.

We bounced down the river for an hour and in the end arrived safe, wet and happy at our destination. Memories never to be forgotten. Tomorrow we get up at the crack of dawn and head to California. And to think were all ready 1/3 of the way done with our trip. WHAT?

Be Blessed

As We Journey

2008-06-20T17:03:00.000-07:00

As we journey through our native home land I am struck by the feeling of being a stranger in a very familiar place. Nothing is really strange, but it all feels so unfamiliar and familiar at the same time. Things like driving feel a little awkward. I have to remember to stop at the stop signs. Stop signs in Portugal are a mere suggestion. And who ever thought that toilet paper could feel so soft? Or how about all the air conditioning; do I even like air conditioning? Not to mention 'Starbucks', one of the primary stops in every city we have visited. Oh the joys of a society that is geared around the desires and convenience of the consumer.

Our first 10 days were spent in Texas where the temperature was hoovering around 95 to a 100 each day, (That around 34 c for your Europeans),with heavy humidity. We visited many people from Paula's past (family and friends) and enjoyed the great hospitality of the South. The last day we were privileged to hang out with Nathan, Beth and Jack. We meet some great people there and were blessed to pray with Beth before her surgery the next day. Nathan shared the story of his journey to Jesus. It one of those wow stories. Nathan is Jewish and is a great story teller. (I think Beth should blog about it. Hint, hint.) We love you Nathan, Beth and Jack. Thanks for blessing us.

From there we headed out to Colorado. One of my best friend in the world, Joel, picked us up and brought us out to his house in Colorado Springs. Paula says this is the cleanest house she has ever been in in her life. (There is no way for us to leave this place as clean as when we showed up.) Joel and I would have liked to have spent some time together but, bummer, his whole family was heading out to take a family vacation the next day, so Joel and I didn't really get a lot of opportunity to hang out except for a few hours. But I am standing here in his kitchen blogging and house sitting while they are gone. It was nice to get to visit 'Garden of the Gods' today, which is just around the corner from their house. We do come from a beautiful country don't we. Sunday we will be speaking at "Foothills Community Church' in Arvada Colorado and then Monday morning we jet off to California. We will be there for the last leg of our journey.

Well that's a little up date on our trip. Looking forward to seeing you soon. No matter what ocean you live near. Be Blessed and leave a light on for us.

The Eye of the Storm

2008-06-04T02:00:00.000-07:00

Thank you friend for coming and reading this. If you are here reading this blog then you must be a friend indeed because I have had no margin this last month the blog. I didn't even get our story up for Ms. Wittney. (Sorry Wit)

Check out those people in the picture to the right. We took that picture not so long after arriving here in Portugal 2 years ago. (Sept of 2006) Wow have we changed. The kids are bigger. Our vision of church planting is bigger. The world seems smaller. And time seems to be flying by. Two years is a long time and no time at all. Who were we two years ago? Who are we now? Noah keeps wondering what his friends will say when they see him. I am wondering the same.

Four days from now we will be flying to the States for a 6 week home assignment; 10 days in Texas, 5 days in Colorado and about 4 weeks in California. I feel like there is no way to get everything done here that needs to get done, but I suppose we'll do it some how. Our summer intern, who was going to stay in our house and watch Bingo (our dog), is not going to be able to come. That has put a kink in things. What do you do with a big black Lab for 6 weeks? (Prayer request) We have people visiting Lisbon right now and we have school finishing. We are trying to get the place cleaned-up for some families that are going to stay in the house for a week. We have all the normal get ready to go way for 6 weeks things to do. Plus birthday party's, regular life stuff, emergency pay the car tax stuff because they changed the law and the tax was due in February but who knew that? Blah, blah, blah...This is the whirl wind we are in.

"Mom when I grow-up I want to be a church planter!" Have you ever heard that country western song, "Mama don't let your babies grow-up to be cowboys" ? There is a line in that song that goes, "They're never at home and they're always alone, even with some one they love" I'm not sure the original idea behind those lyrics is what I'm talking about, but as we journey through this missional church planting life, there is an aspect of never at home and always alone...even with those we love.

So USA here we come. Were leaving home for 6 weeks to go home for 6 weeks. We will not be the people who flew to Europe 2 years ago and yet we are still the Farmers. (Will you know us now?)We will be with those we love and far from those we love, knowing that in 6 weeks we will be leaving those we love to return to those we love. Following Jesus has all this contrast; die to live, be the last to be first, to lead you must serve, the least is the greatest, and so on. Lead on Jesus.

If you want to hear about the last two weekends and our prayer retreats, just read the next blog. We can't wait to see you all in the states. See you in a few day, more or less.

Blessings upon Blessings to you

Prayer Retreat x2

2008-06-04T01:52:00.000-07:00

For the month of May our community, The Lisboa Matrix, focused on prayer and fasting. We had it on our hearts as we went into May to see spiritual break through for The Matrix, Lisbon, Portugal and the World. If I could share all the stories from this month I would. Let me try to give a brief over view.

We started with the National day of Prayer in the USA. We prayed for the states and the church there. Then we continued day to day with specific prayer for each day of the week, praying for our community. We prayed for things like the Gregg family and what had happened with them at the International school. We prayed for Morocco and the people there. We prayed for our children and their future. We prayed for the International Christian School of Cascias. We prayed for the prayer retreats coming at the end of the month. Every day there was something to pray for. There was also the Global Day of Prayer in there on the 11th of May.

From our prayers, we recieved many answers. For example; The Gregg's were offered many teaching opportunity's, even though it was very late to be job hunting for schools. (Check out their blog Gypsy Jesus on my blog links for more about this) We saw some Junior High students, kids P and I have had opportunity to work with, receive Jesus at the Christian School. (You can read about that on the Gregg's blog also) And we were blessed by God at both our prayer retreats. I can't really put into world how this month of prayer/fasting moved here, but it moved things.

Then there were the two prayer retreats at the end of the month. Before this becomes a book, let me share some about the prayer retreat at Casa de Uhler. (Up at our team mates house. Thank you sooooo much for those of you who covered us in prayer.) There were 20 people or so at the retreat. We ate, sang, cooked, cleaned, prayed, learned and lived together for the weekend. The weather was supposed to be rainy, but we ended up with tons of sun and a little light rain. There was a mixed bag of followers of the Way and seekers of the Truth. It was great. Community was built with the Lisbon people and the Porto people. Sunday morning we entered into a time of prayer for each other. We had walked through the weekend together, so if was natural for us to go to prayer together. Even those who were seeking entered in. If I were to say that the Spirit of God showed up in a powerful way, I think I would be understating it. For two and a half hours we prayed. We prayed for individuals one after the other. It was mind blowing. At one point during the prayer time, I was drained and thought, "I don't know if I can pray any more." But then refreshing came and I entered again. Someone else said we needed to get some water in us, because we were dehydrating from all the weeping and tears. At the end I think we all walked away from the weekend having encountered God in one of the most powerful times of our life. I am not over stating this either. Myself, Marty, Vitor (from Porto), we all felt it was one of the most powerful prayer times we had ever had. And I know that he is still working on the people who were there.

Ok long blog, but I wanted to share. If you want to look of picture of the Uhler weekend or of our prayer retreat in Tomar, (that I didn't even share about), you can click on the LisboaMatrix link to the right and go to gallery.The picture at the top is from the Tomar weekend, which was wild and crazy. I'll have to share about that too soon. Thanks for supporting us through prayer and giving.

Be Blessed; Life's Short-Pray Hard!

How Did I Get This Busy

2008-05-12T09:38:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to blog about all of the stuff that is going on here right now, but something had to give, and it was the blog. Forgive me for the long silence. I think the best way for me to catch you up is to do a speed list. Maybe i'll throw a story in, we'll see. So hang on here it comes...

April brought the rain, and it wants to stay. On the 12th we gathered as a community to huddle and get a vision for our mission as a church. At the same time we were trying to figure out what our choices were going to be for school for the kids next year. (I'll talk more about that later) Teaching kept us busy with a lot of heart ache about some of the kids from ICSC in the upper grades not passing. On the 25th of April our house church gathered as a small group and worked out our vision for our group. It was amazing!
May came roaring in and we kicked off our Month of Prayer. We prayed for the states on the 1st and also kicked off our first Thursday fast of the month. (we are fasting on Thursdays for spiritual breakthrough here) Friday the 2nd Paula and I had a lock-in with the high school class at ICSC. We stayed up all night, ate ice cream, watched movies and had a great time. (We were tired) Saturday was Marty's birthday so we went to the beach and played volleyball. Then house church at our place on Saturday. Also Friday Peter from Germany came for a visit. He headed to Porto on Monday. Monday we went to a teachers meeting for ICSC to support our friend Jason Gregg because the school...i'm not going to go into it, but we may not send our kids to the school, or teach there next year because of the way they have been treating people. Please pray with us about this. It is major. I have no idea what we did for the rest of the week, but my head was spinning. And then Sunday was house church again and the Global Day of Prayer. (We had a prayer meeting for our city at the cross in Cascais) Today we taught and sent out e-mails, prayer retreat flyer's, school prep and more. Now I have to finish this so I can head over to another prayer meeting and share with them tonight. Pray with us that we would see freedom and open doors here in Portugal.
OK, that's a mess and a whole lot of info. Hope you can follow it.
Blessings
PS We will head for the states June 9th. Texas, to Colorado, to San Diego and back to Lisbon on July 18th, I think.

Come Like Little Children

2008-04-23T11:04:00.000-07:00

Carey invited us to go the the beach with some kids from Aldia SOS today. Aldia SOS is one of the 2 orphanages we did restoration on last summer. I picked the kids up from school, ran home, grabbed some beach wear and headed out. (It seems like it's been raining for the last 3 weeks. Quit rolling your eyes all you folks in Northern Europe.)

One of the funny things about going to the beach with Noah is that he puts his wetsuit on before we leave the house. Then he's ready to hit the water as soon as he gets there. (The water here is very cold. )One of the draw backs of the "wear your wetsuit to the beach system" is that you also have to wear the thing home. (But that's another story)

So we buzz over to Carcavelos Beach to meet up with the Uhlers. (At least three of the Uhlers) Noah immediately hits the water and i sit there watching him. As he splashed around in the rolling white wash, my mind drifted into thought. The sun warm on my face. The wind just cool enough. Then a gentle thought, a small voice maybe. This is how the Spirit spoke to my heart. "Look at your son body slamming the waves. He doesn't even care if he doing anything special. He just likes to be in the water, without needing to accomplish anything. He doesn't need to learn to surf, or body board, or anything. He's just there with out shame, or expectation, enjoying the power of the sea. Do that with me."

It was a very simple, but profound lesson. Here are the steps;

1. Before you leave prepare like you are going to get wet.

2. When you arrive, don't hesitate.

3. The joy is in the experience of the moment, not in a goal or project.

4. Don't worry about what anyone else thinks, just get in there and get wet.

Children really are the best way to understand God. Get wet and Be Blessed

(By the way Noah is enjoying doing art on windows paint. He did the heart.)

I Feel Like Cinderella

2008-04-15T01:57:00.000-07:00

I am working on living a simpler way of life. Chuck Swindol put me up to it. He wrote this nice little book called... (what is the name of that book? I'll go look at it and find out...Got it!) It's called "Intimacy with the Almighty" Cool title! He talks about four things he did to find a greater Intimacy with God. They go in this order;

1. Simplify, 2. Silence, 3. Solitude, 4.Surrender. (I could go into all the details but I won't)

So I read the little book again, (it's like the third or fourth time I've read it) and I looked around the house and said to myself, "Self this place is a mess, because it to messy. It's to messy because it's cluttered with stuff! Self, we need to simplify." So that's what I've been doing. Getting simpler. It is bringing a lot more peace to my life. Simple peace.

That was right after Easter. Then this week I started running. Lately God has been encouraging me to get healthier. Now I have never been an exercise freak, but I knew I should be exercising more than I was. The thing was that I didn't do it. I kept ignoring the "Why don't you start getting healthier?" feeling I was getting. I would say to myself (and God in the process) I'm working up to it. I'll do it soon. (Wink) So what does God do? He ups me by one. He has Derek Dempsey buy some Nike shoes in the States. Derek loves the shoes and brings them home. When he gets them here they don't fit any more. (They fit perfect in the states he said) He tries to give them to a few people, but no luck. So what the heck, see if they fit me. (Derek is 6' 4" and wears a size 11 1/2) I figure no way they're going to fit. I put them on. Perfect fit. It's like being Cinderella except there isn't a Fairy Godmother, but there is a God Father. (I'll make you an offer you can't refuse) SO...I am now running 1.8 mile in the mornings. Who would have guessed.

Three things I must keep reminding myself as I do this...

1.I want a simpler life, I like a clean house, so I have to put the work into doing it til it is a habit.

2. I want to be healthier, I want to live, so I have to push through the pain til it gets easier.

3. I want to respond positively to God, because He loves me and it blesses me greatly.

Looking around I see that my kitchen needs to be cleaned and the laundry folded. My legs are sore and shaky. And God is a very patient Father. Be Blessed and push on with the hard stuff.

Thrums () Thrums ( ) Thrums ( )

2008-04-08T01:16:00.000-07:00

Simple
Nowtherushingpressingbuzzingchaosthrumthrumthrums
Still
Nowtherushing pressingbuzzingchaos thrumthrums
In solitued
Now the rushingpressingbuzzing choasthrums
Surrendered
Thrums
Here
This Moment
Moment to moment
()
Movenowor facethe oblivionthat waitsontheotherside
Comfort me
Here
In this moment
This that is before me
( )
Thrums
This
This alone
( )
Allthe lonleyness is isthe reality ofthe failure thatyou are
Stop
( )
Youwillnever stop
Wait
( )
Itis all empty
Listen
( )
To yourhead chatter
Moment to moment
( )
Here
( )
Only here
( )
Silent
( )
Wait
( )
Simple
(You are my beloved)
I breathe as I am
Silent
(You are my beloved)
I breathe as I am being
Solitued
(You are my beloved)
I breathe as I am being made
Surrender
(You are my beloved)
I breathe as I am being made new
(Beloved)
Simple
Thrums

The Power of Plants; Our Story (Part 6)

2008-04-04T07:11:00.000-07:00

When I started telling our story it was just going to be a little blurb about our journey to Jesus, but somehow I can never just tell a short story, and so as some of my beautiful friends have suggested, it has become a short novel or one act play. If you will forgive me, I have to finish at this point or I will feel incomplete. So with out further ado, the saga of two star crossed lovers will proceed.

There I was back on the islands in Washington, Orcas island to be exact. I was trying to recapture some of the magic I had lost since I had left, but something was missing. I was all twisted up and no amount of drugs was really taking the bleak, black feeling away. So I did what I always do when I feel like that, I wrote.

I don't really remember the majority of what I wrote. I suppose it was short stories and dark beat style poetry along the line of Lawrence Ferlinghetti, but for the most part I don't remember. There is one story I do remember. It went something like this, there was this Father and he had a teen age daughter. He loved his daughter very much, but she became sick with cancer and died. So the Father, who was a lumber jack, found this giant old tree that had been struck by lightening and died and he carved the dead tree into a beautiful angel in memory of his beloved daughter. The End. It may not have been Tolstoy, but for me it was to be the start of a journey home. The story was an expression of the pain I was in and somehow that pain was manifesting in the loss of a child that I didn't even know yet. I had a black hole in my soul and I didn't know what to do about it. I was lost and now somewhere out there, there was going to be a little baby who would never know this jacked up person who was her Father. How had this happened? I had always imagined that I was going to be an awesome Dad, but that was so far from the truth now.

If you believe in God, and you think that it is possible for him to use any circumstance to reach out to His beloved, then you will understand what I am about to say. It was at this point that I felt Gods Spirit reach out and shake my heart. Mind you I didn't know it was Him at the time, but looking back I can see Him all over me. I couldn't take it. I called up Paula, back in San Diego, to find out how she was.

Well as you can imagine, being two dysfunctional people as we were, we felt like things were better. I missed her. She was lonely living in my home town were she only knew my parents. After a few phone calls back and forth it was obvious, we had to get together again. The problem was that we were three states apart. I figured it was a no brainer she should come back to the beautiful San Juan Islands where we had met. The beautiful islands where you could live life how ever you wanted. The magic islands. She would have loved to, but she couldn't leave her fern. See she had this beautiful Boston fern that she had bought and in all reality it was her only friend in San Diego. (Remember I was going to be a plant Shaman so it didn't seem so weird)

Well I tried, but she wasn't coming with out the fern, so either I was going back or it was over. Somehow I had it in my mind that it wasn't over, so that meant I had to go back. I looked at the consequences of going back. If I went back and if blew-up again I would have nothing. I would be forced to leave and figure out what to do with my life. Being that I had nothing right now and I didn't know what to do with my life I figured I didn't have much to loose, so I went for it. I flew back to Escondido.

It was amazing. She was a different person. She was nice. She was sweet. We liked each other again. Life was great. I decided to not go back to work for my dad again, (Nothing like being ashamed) and looked around for waiter jobs. There was one great restaurant in all of Escondido at the time that was of the caliber of restaurant I had worked at in New York. I applied and got a position as a lunch staff waiter. I figured I would work my way up to nights where the real money was. Paula was pregnant. We were back in love. We lived in a cheep little apartment and I was making minimum wage, plus tips. Life was great.

How Do You Title This?

2008-03-30T14:08:00.000-07:00

Things are never dull around here, as you can see. We have giants and hobbits, Prince's and Princesses, and Delirious concerts that rock the house. Friday night was a great night. We took a group of Portuguese friends to see Delirious in concert. The band was great and we worshiped hard. It was nice to get to worship in a big way. We don't get as much big group worship these days.

The other pictures are of my little girl goofing around. I love how big Scott looks standing there next to her in Hobbit form.

School starts back up tomorrow, so we will all be busy again, but I'll still try to be regular with the blog. Be Blessed

It's the Simple Things

2008-03-27T13:52:00.000-07:00

The kitchen is warm and smells like fresh cook tortillas. If you could feel the joy that we felt when I cooked up this batch of tortillas...well let's just say that I made them last night and again tonight, except tonight I made burritos. Last night we ate them with butter and cheese. Tonight I made salsa, and beans to go with them.
One of the things I remember about the first few months we moved over here was the lack of pleasure I found in eating, nothing tasted yummy. But these tortillas were out of this world. (If I do say so myself) They were the right texture, the right color, the right consistency and the right flavor. They are also the right price. Flour, milk, oil, baking powder, and salt are all affordable in the quantities it calls for. What a treat. Thank you cooks.com, that's where I got the recipe. So we may get sick of tortillas and never want to eat another one, but who cares, right now were loving it.
All you folks in So Cal enjoy your Mexican food and Be Blessed

Our Easter

2008-03-26T01:13:00.000-07:00

Look at these two Godly women enjoying the sun on Easter morning. The weather had been really cold and rainy all week, so the sun was a wonderful sight Easter morning. (It's cold again)

Good Friday was great. We meet at Ali Baba's, a Moroccan Hookah bar. There were about 30 people or so there, including kids. I presented an interactive drama/Seder/Last Supper. We worshipped and walked through the last meal of Jesus and then had some wonderful Moroccan food that the owner of the place, Mustaffa, had prepared for us. It was a great time. The best part for me was how much Mustaffa enjoyed having us there. He asked if he could get pictures of the event and really extended himself to make sure we were taken care of. I hope we can build a friendship.

Easter morning was also great. We cancelled the sunrise service because they were forecasting 0' degree temperatures up on the mountain. Pancake breakfast was all ready planned for after the sunrise service, so we just went with that. The sun came out strong and we feasted on pancakes, fruit, breads, jams, eggs with real American sausage and more. The kids hunted eggs and ran around like a pack of wild monkeys. Scott shared about the resurrection and the implications of it if it is true. And we worshipped. We sang, laughed, danced and lifted our voices in praise. There were smiles, and tears. It was a great Easter weekend. We hope yours was beautiful as well. Be Blessed for He has Risen.

The Prince of Egypt

2008-03-21T01:37:00.000-07:00

This is what my living room looked like last night. (I know it a horrible picture) Our community gathered in our house to watch "The Prince of Egypt" There was lots of root beer, provided by one of our NATO families and more pop corn than you can shake a stick at.

Tonight we are going over to Ali Babas, a hookah bar/restaurant, for a interactive dramatic Passover/Good Friday event. I got to create it and I am really excited and nervous about how it is going to play out. It should be really cool, if it goes the way I am picturing it in my head.

For Easter morning we are going to go up the mountain for Sun Rise Service. The forecast is calling for it to be 0' that morning. (That's 32' for you folks in the states) So it should be quite invigorating. Then well head on down the mountain for pancake breakfast at the Uhlers. I love this.

I'm hoping that I can get a copy of the Easter drama my 5th and 6th graders performed yesterday. Maybe I can get the guy who videoed it to post it to You Tube and then I could get a link. Got to run so I can put the finishing touches on tonight's stuff. Be Blessed for He has Risen

Anywhere but Here! (Our Story part 5)

2008-03-18T01:04:00.000-07:00

The Journey from the state of Washington to San Diego, California was a three day push. Forced to be with each other hour after hour, we soon discovered that "all was not well in the land of Nod." Morning sickness combined with travel sickness caused our nerves to get raw. By the time we reached San Diego things were not as rosy as they had looked before.

We pulled into Escondido with three cans of soup and $8.00 in our pocket. I figured I could work for my dad for a little while, make some cash and then we would head off to Mexico. When I say a little while, I meant a little while. The last thing that I wanted was to be back in Escondido where I had grown up. I mean hey, I had lived in New York, New York. I was a man of the world. I wasn't going to get stuck back in my home town.

Paula on the other hand suddenly had a different plans. They went something like this; Get a job, get an apartment, have the baby in a hospital instead of a cave and then go back to law school. Huh? The old nesting instinct had kicked in and we were not going anywhere. WHAT!?! How had this happened? Had I been tricked. Was it witchcraft? Stuck back in Escondido with this crazy girl who was going to have my baby. Stuck here? Where had the freaky wild hippy chick gone? And what did she mean she wanted to go to Law School? Was she kidding? You don't decided to go to Law School when your having a baby. Do you? What was going on?

We did get an apartment and I kept working for my dad. She started nesting, preparing to have the baby, but we were getting further and further out on a limb. Our relationship was going down to tube. Basically it went something like this; I hated working for my dad. She wanted me to buck-up and be a man. I wasn't ready to be responsible. She wasn't ready to give up her independence. We fought more and more until she decided that maybe I could live in an apartment next door, but she and the baby didn't need me around. I on the other hand had a few choice thoughts about her. Things were about to explode.

So one day after work I told my dad to get me my money and drive me to the airport. I wasn't talking about it, there was not going to be a discussion. Just give me my money and take me to the airport. I was going back to Orcas Island to live with my sister and her husband. I was gone. Good-bye. So long. Good riddance.

The State of Things (And a Few Pics)

2008-03-17T09:48:00.000-07:00

Well here is a little photo log of what we have been doing the last few weeks.

Top left; Eden on the beach with a bunch of kids from the Aldiea SOS orphanage learning to surf.

Top Center; is Noah's black eye from getting punched by one of the Nigerian kids at his school.

Top Right; The volunteer fire department parade coming up our street on Sunday morning.

Bottom Left; Kelton, Branson, and Noah at the beach. Kelton and Branson were visiting from Amsterdam.

Bottom Center; Saying good-bye our German friend Eddie, and our American friend Jared as they got ready for their walk about to Spain and on...

The Euro is strong against the dollar ($1.57 as we speak) and oil is $109.00 a barrel. Americas banking institutions are standing on rocky ground and the stock markets across the globe are on a roller coaster ride. Kosovo is seeing fighting again. Tibet is going crazy. And who knows what kind of darkness waits around the next corner.

Yet this is exactly why we are doing what we do. In the words of Jesus, "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have over come the world." Earth quakes, famine, cancer, war...they're not going away. The poor will always be with you. Trouble, trouble and more trouble, but Jesus, he's the great Lover of our Soul. The Comforter. The Teacher of the Good Ways. The Over Comer of the World. In this crazy world, we are bring the crazy upside down kingdom of Jesus to people who need Hope.

So pray for us. Pray with us. This Easter may we have beautiful feet as we bring the Good News.

Be Blessed

New Rhythems

2008-03-04T02:28:00.000-08:00

Teaching is our new rhythm. P and I are both working part time at the International Christian School of Cascais. She is teaching American History and I'm still teaching theatre. Not only are we able to develop relationships with these young international students, but we are also able to take a little pressure off of the cost of tuition.

This picture is of Eden's 5th and 6th grade class working on their Easter drama.

So now we are working out our new rhythm/schedule. Who is doing the grocery shopping? And when? What about that pile of dirty laundry? Who takes the car to school and who walks? Etc, etc, etc. So much of our life's are centered around routine. Yet so much of our growth happens when we are in uncomfortable positions. And we are uncomfortable right now. Uncomfortable with our lack of time. Uncomfortable with the learning curve. Uncomfortable with the things we don't know.

One thing that is starting to be less uncomfortable for the kids and me is having P go away on business. She just flew to Amsterdam this morning for a ServetheCity leaders strategy/planning event. She will be home Sunday. But hey, five days is nothing after having her gone for over three weeks. We're pro's now. Pray for good work to be done in Amsterdam with the ServetheCity leaders. Pray for us as we are with out mommy again. And pray for us to keep leaning into being uncomfortable. Miss ya all. Be Blessed

You Don't Have to Read This

2008-02-23T02:51:00.000-08:00

This is one of the pieces of thought provoking graffiti that are sprayed on the walls of the board walk down by the beach between Estoril and Cascais. There is another one that shows a family kneeling in prayer with an oil barrel over their head, and the statement "In God We Trust" below them. Another shows two people, a man & a woman stick figure, embracing with thought bubbles over their heads. His bubble shows his thought, "XXX". Hers shows "$". Or how about this one, "Democracy, some assembly required", with the picture of pieces of a tank being put together.
All these are statements about how the graffiti artists see the world around them. (Check out Romans 1: 18-32) They have something they want us all to think about. Like modern prophets they spray their messages for the world to see. War, and what they see as the lies of democracy. Sex, the misunderstandings between men and woman and what really motivates them. Religion, the hypocrisy they see in the world around them and where people really put their trust. Ezekiels for their generation.
Now I don't think God called these people to deface public property, nor do I think that most peoples live are motivated to change because of these spray painted murals, but what I do find interesting is that this person has something to say. Something they feel strongly enough about that they will spray paint it on a wall. Are they wanting to challenge the way people think about the world around them? Or are they expressing a view point that many of the younger generation today are feeling, that life sucks? That war, greed, the system, people, the world, and God have failed them. That sex, money and power are the only truth that seems to matter.
Have they given up hope? They must feel that something can change or else why spray paint this message for the world to see. They must desire to see change. Something in them must believes that there is a new way and a new message. "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" The hearts are prepared, the field is white, and we must paint our message for today's generation to see. May they Be Blessed!

Reality Check

2008-02-16T23:09:00.000-08:00

When there is nothing on AXN, (That's the channel with CSI Las Vegas/Miami/New York, Criminal Minds, ER, Life, etc.) we will check out the discovery channel. The whole channel is dubbed in Portugese but on some shows, such as Myth Busters, you can kind of hear the english underneath. We like Myth Busters. Not only can you kind of understand them, but they do all sorts of cool stuff. They smash things and blow things up and shoot things and all of this is done simi-scientficly.

The two hosts are these crazy guys Adam and Jamie. Paula thinks Jamie looks like a scarey cat creature. He has this massive crazy mustache and always wears a black beret with a white shirt. Adam likes to wear black t-shirts with pithy saying on them. One of them is a stick figure guy falling over, the caption reads, "I do all my own stunts". I like that shirt.

Last night he was wearing a black t-shirt that had white lettering that read."I reject your reality, and I substitute my own" Anyhow I started thinking about the saying and the whole idea of reality. How do we deal with this idea his shirt was proclaiming and what is MY reality?

Jesus said LOVE was the greatest thing. He didn't say being super spiritual or powerful or anything else was the greatest. It was love. That was his command to his band of brothers. "Love one another as I have loved you." Love wildly, freely, at all cost. This is the reality I need to substitute. God is love. I am identified with God. I live in Christ and He lives in me. His Spirit guides me. I am Jesus to those around me. "For God so loved the world...that he sent Jesus" And "For Jesus so loved the world ...that He sent me." So my reality is to love, no matter the sacrifice. No matter the cost.

Maybe I need to make my own t-shirt that says something like this, "I reject your reality and substitute it with LOVE." Maybe I can start by living it. Be Blessed. Be Loved.

We're doing it again! 24/7 PRAYER

2008-02-15T08:52:00.000-08:00

This is the message we sent to the Matrix community this week. Thought you might enjoy it. (It had all sorts of cool graphics but I couldn't get them to import.)

Maybe you would like to join with us during this time of prayer. (From 6:00 pm on Friday the 15th to 8:00 pm on Sunday the 17th)

CAUTION !

PLEASE read this so you are aware of the dangers of being
involved in a 24/7 PRAYER ROOM

24/7 Prayer is highly contagious.
Symptoms of a 24/7 prayer fever may include the following:

· Blurry eyes as you get up in the early in the morning hours to PRAY!
· The urge to skip your 24/7 PRAYER time because your bed is warm.
· Wondering why you are driving across town at 3 in the morning.
· A sense of anticipation as you walk towards the 24/7 PRAYER room.
· Nervousness about interrupting the PRAYER time of the person in there.
· A sense of wonder as you enter the Holiness of the PRAYER ROOM.
· Feelings of awe as you encounter the Living God in PRAYER.
· A powerful desire to see YOUR WORLD CHANGED!

You may experience the loss of time, the feeling that an hour couldn’t have gone by all ready when the next person shows up for their hour. That is normal. To reduce the likely hood of this you may sign-up for more than one hour at a time.

Also the is not responsible for any powerful spiritual experiences you might have, or any deeper desires to pray, or for any answered prayers.

Should you wish to continue on with your journey towards the
24/7 PARYER ROOM see the attached document.
Or Go to www.lisboamatrix.com

Mexico Bound-Our Story (Part 4)

2008-02-08T08:58:00.000-08:00

Paula was coming back. I drove into East Sound and picked her up from the airport. (It was actually a run way where a single engine plane could land and take off.) I was very excited to see her after our time apart. I was dirty, dressed in my manly green frock, my hair was henna red and shaved into a long mohawk. Welcome home baby!

When she stepped off the plane I was stunned. She was radiante, with a short spiked hair cut, a fauxe white fur coat, a black velet hat and mini skirt. Remember we had been living a grungy life style there at Doe Bay. (It was the early 90's and we were just outside of Seattle) So seeing her all primped and pampered was breath taking. Thing's were looking good.

But romantic moments aren't made to last, except in books and movies. We went back to our love shack in the woods, back to the disfuntional. My sense of what was right and wrong was not completely gone. I knew that even though I was not planning on marrying this person, she was going to have our baby, and I must do the right thing and marry her. (I don't know why that was what I thought, but it was. I knew it before she returned.)

"Paula will you marry me?"

"No!"

What? You have got to be kidding me. It was like jumpping in a cold lake. I couldn't believe she was saying no. I was crushed. It hurt. I was not going to ask again. So that was it. We would be the babies Mommy and Daddy and life would go on. No worries. Except for the fact that life around us was melting down as Winter pressed in. The harder the conditions the worse everyone was treating each other and we were not pleased with it. P had traveled with the sun as she had been bouncing around and the cold grey of the Pacific North West was getting to her. It was time for a move. We needed to find a place to have the baby and it needed to be warm.

I had read a book about being a plant Shaman and had seen that there was a man in Mexico that I could study Plant Shamanisim under. For those of you who are not familiar with Plant Shamaisim, it is the spiritual practice of learning to commune and talk with the spirit of plants so that you can heal the plants and be guided by them.

We decided that was it. That was our plan. We would leave Doe Bay, head for Mexico so I could become a plant shaman, stop at my dads place in San Diego to earn some money, and P could have the baby down there. (Mexico is cheap) We had a gas card, about 20 bucks and a few cans of soup for the journey. We loaded all our stuff into her 1977 Chinook pick-up/pop-up camper. All of our stuff fit into 4 small cardboard boxes. It was raining as we left. (Rain in Seattle?) And the floor board of the Chinook was rusted out and covered with cardboard. So within an hour of leaving my legs were soaked up to the knees from water spraying up through the floor board. This was going to be a long trip. Wet pants, a sick pregnant girl friend, no food or money, and we were running out of illegal substances to smoke. It couldn't get much worse, could it?

NEXT MONTH: HOW DID I END UP BACK IN MY HOME TOWN?

Welcome Home Mommy

2008-02-05T06:53:00.001-08:00

Just over three weeks ago P flew to California to connect with supporters and do some very much needed emergency support raising. Three weeks, plus a few days is a long time for us to all be apart, but we made it. Sunday night she returned to us safe and sound.We are all very happy to be Four Wild Geese again. She is wiped out, but content. I am looking forward to hearing all the wonderful stories she has from her time there.

What I want to say most of all is Thank You! Thank You everyone who supported her and loved on her. Thank You for all the financial gifts and the physical ones. Thank You for opening your homes and hearts. Thank You Linus for the miles. Thank You Christian Associates for keeping us afloat through this. Thanks to our Mom's and Dad's. Most of all Thank You for standing with us. We couldn't do it without your prayers and knowing you are there with us. So Thank You all!

For those of you who have wondered what happened to the rest of "Our Story" it is coming. I have decided to post it on the blog once a month so I don't burn out on writing it. So as I said to my friend Whitney, "COMING SOON TO A BLOG NEAR YOU, PART 4 MEXICO BOUND "

You are a blessing to us. Be blessed too!

Pressing On (A Raw Post)

2008-01-30T09:14:00.000-08:00

My creative juices have been dry. It is for this reason that I have been lacking blog material. It's not like my life has stopped, but how do you make the blah of everyday life interesting. Do any of you ever have that problem? I mean who cares how much laundry is piled up in our bed rooms. Or how many dirty dishes are in the sink. Or who cares that I am wondering what the heck I am doing that is making a difference in the Kingdom. (It's time for P to come home.)

But isn't that the battle? Isn't this also what Paul is talking about when he talks about "Being pressed but not crushed. Down but not out, etc, etc, etc..." Isn't this where most of us find we are in the dark shadow filled valley? When all hell is breaking loose and the spiritual battle is in my face, I don't have a problem remembering that we battle against principalities of the air, spiritual forces of darkness. But this feeling of inadequacies is the worst. This feeling that my life is going to just drag on like this is torture. (Because it's all about me you know.)

So what to do? (Deep breath) I am lowering my shoulder and pressing on, remembering that I am just a cracked clay pot. I am remembering that I am not abandoned. I am remembering that God finishes what He starts. I am remembering that my beloved bride is 5 days from being home. I am remembering that my community has cared for me in her absence. I am remembering that the last time I felt like this God carried me through it. I am remembering that you are there suffering through your own stuff and that this present suffering, for us, is but a shadow that will pass. I am remembering that MLK Jr. had a dream that still exists, ( I figure even MLK Jr. felt these things sometimes too.), that putting an end to slavery was not easy,that the fight for spiritual freedom in the world is not even close to over, that Christ suffered for my junk and He still chooses me to do this. (Even if I do have a sink full of dishes.) \I am remembering that feeling low is part of the battle. That this season, this Winter of discontent, will pass and Spring is waiting on the other side. So I will remember to seek His face and remember that I AM BLESSED! "For we are more than conquerors!" You be blessed too.

Jesus Didn't Have Blond Hair

2008-01-18T00:49:00.000-08:00

This is my buddy Ezzy. He is little and full of energy. He has one of the greatest smiles and I just love him. He's a little super hero/cave man/rock star in training.

Last night his mom and dad had the kids and I over for dinner before worship circle practice. For those who don't know worship circle is where anyone in our community can come and work on their worship skills. I'm learning to play guitar. Others are working on their vocal skills. Some are master musicians. Others, lets just say were getting there. So every other Thursday night were go to Jason and Linda Greggs house to have worship circle.

So last night were having dinner with them and I don't remember what exactly happened but Ezzy thanked me and his Mom for something. "Thanks you mama. Thank you Him." He speaks in that almost impossible to understand baby language that only a parent can decipher. "Thank you him." It was cute. So Linda says "Ezzy what's his name." And without a moments hesitation Ezzy say "Jesus" A moment of being stunned then Linda says again "What's his name?" No hesitation "Jesus" We just about bust a gut laughing.

I have had a beard for awhile. And it is my goal to emulate the Teacher, but that is way to much pressure. It did give me a cool thought. What Ezzy wants is for Jesus to pick him up and make growling monster faces, and chase him around, and let him stick plastic samurai swords in his stomach. Ezzy wants Jesus to play with him and be his friend. And I am his friend (but I'm not Jesus) Jesus said "Let the little children come." and "Come like children" Well I'm going to try to remember that, to come with out inhibitions, to be Jesus friend. Sure He's a lot bigger and stronger and more powerful than me, but He likes me, just like I like Ezzy. We're friends. Be like a child, and Be Blessed

One Goose Short

2008-01-17T02:14:00.000-08:00

Well it's been a week now that we have been with out Mother Goose. She flew back to the California last week to do some support raising and connecting with people like you. Hope all you So Cal folks get a chance to say hi while she's there.

It's always a challenge to be apart for long periods of time. This one will be just over three weeks. Which I think will be the longest that we will have had to survive with out our beloved wife and mother. Yes the house is a little messy and the food we eat is a little simpler. (We had bacon and eggs for dinner last night.) But we are making it. I think P was a little worried we might starve to death in her absence.

The worst part was that I came down with some super death bug thing the day after she left. Fever, night sweats, crazy dreams about little boxes that I swear were real, coughing my guts up, body aches and I don't know what else. I still have the cough, but I am much better. Our community here really helped out. Rob and Nina had us up to their house in Sintra, for dinner last Friday night and Terri brought over Lasagna Sat. night. Thank you God for giving us these people. I think were going to make it.

Well this getting back in the saddle with my blog has been a chore, but I think I did it. Stay tuned for more. Same bat time, same bat channel. Same Bat Blessings

We're back, Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T10:40:00.000-08:00

I just looked at the date from my last blog and I realized that it had been 22 days since I blogged. I didn't realize how busy I was until I wasn't busy anymore.

Our whole family hopes that you had a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year. I will start blogging again this week. Until till then be Blessed.

The picture is from our balcony watching the fire works on New Years Eve.

Ten Year Olds Thoughts on God

2007-12-10T09:41:00.000-08:00

Noah sat down and wrote some thoughts about God the other day. He wants to share them in our house church, and I think I'll let him. Might make for an interesting conversation. Here are his words unedited.

The Meaning of Life written Noah S. Farmer

For years man kind has wondered several questions of life From why are we here to what is our purpose .There are four major questions life ,it’s reason ,
Our meaning ,and how we were made .These questions have been growing in our brains day by day and night by night .Every second ,minute ,and hour the question gets bigger and makes us even more insane about it .that’s what drove us into the mess of science .The people who believe science think the world and all existence where made by the Big Bang while on the other hand Christians think God made every thing with his voice .But I think both of them happened I say that God clapped his hands and caused the Big Bang which made every single bit of material and used his voice to make every thing from that material .I also believe that dinosaurs existed . I think they lived before the Garden of Eden but it is likely that it is true .I mean it says in the Bible that one thousand years is like a blink for God and a blink for God is like one thousand years .If you just think about how many times you blink a day and one blink is one thousand years the time in between would give the dinosaurs time to live before the Garden of Eden wouldn’t you agree that is a reasonable explanation I do. Oh I have a joke for you in the Bible when it says one thousand years is like the blink of an eye for God and for God one thousand years is like the blink of an eye .Dose that mean he is so slow that one thousand years pass in the time it takes him blink or dose it mean that time is so fast to him that in the time that he blinks one thousand years will go by in time’s wake ?Man kind might never know .The question is growing just like the question at the beginning of the page how the question of life grows in our heads day by day ,night by night ,and year by year .Questions they just keep on growing in side our minds ,souls ,and spirits. They are like a great big disease that spreads to any body who hear about it maybe questions are the meaning of our life, existence, meaning.
Perhaps we are here to ask and answer questions and to expand our knowledge. It is actually our job to ask questions because God made us to be his friends, because as friends our duty to ask questions because friends ask them. I am not talking about the simple how are you doing questions, I mean the deep down personal thoughts of life. Now I want you to think about it. What is the meaning of your life? Now when you have that answer I want you to write what that thing on a peace of paper so that every day you get sad ,discouraged ,or lonely you can just look at the peace of paper you wrote your meaning on and just think about how great of a meaning it is .And then maybe just maybe you will be filled with joy ,happiness ,and most of all the holy spirit .

(That's my boy! Be Blessed)

Just a Quick Note

2007-12-05T22:10:00.000-08:00

Thought I might post while I'm waiting for my lovely bride to finish her shower. It's 6:00 am here and she's getting ready to fly to Dublin for a ServetheCity leaders work/planning weekend. (Who plans an event in the Winter in Ireland?) Pray for her. She love cold weather sooo much.
We are very busy here in Portugal with Christmas coming up. Some how I have found myself being a core person in two Christmas events that are happening the same weekend. One for ICSC (the kids school) and one for The Matrix. Click on the Lisboa Matrix link to get an idea whats going on here.
A quick note before I go, I was given the opportunity to do a Voice Over for a short video last night. (For those who don't know a voice over is when you put narration over a film) It was all about social injustice. That's just what Gods been putting on my heart lately. I talk about that late, when my life doesn't feel like two trains running on the same track. Hope you are seeing the star that leads to Bethlehem and my you find and worship the King. Be Blessed

The ex-Actor & the Hippie Witch (Our Story Part 3)

2007-11-28T11:01:00.000-08:00

One of the things that I didn't know was that I was SUPER messed up. (That may seem obvious , but I was clueless.) I was hurting. I was self medicating with numerous drugs. I was so empty inside and scared to face it that I was stoned or worse most of the time. Another thing that I didn't know was that at Doe Bay there was a repetitive cycle of people turning on one another. Things would be great for awhile, but as Winter approached all hell would break loose. The biggest thing I didn't know was that I was taking my first steps towards my Destiny.

Paula, the 5'5", brown haired, green eyed girl, was the key stone in my future history. As we started hanging out together, I started to find a friend. Someone who liked my crazy, adventures ideas. Someone who thought my writing was good. A person who seemed be a mix of laid back and charged up. Half woman, half magic.

She was a nomad, having just returned from a desert journey to clean up from meth. A hippie chick with funk in her soul. A worshiper of the moon who could see the supernatural. A blend of Wicca and wild. She was on a spiritual journey following Bachas, the Greek God of wine, and Diana the Moon Goddess. She was fun and free spirited. What she wanted more than anything was to have a baby, but she had been through some serious medical procedures recently, and the doctors had told her she would never have children. Having been told she would never be a Mother, she set out to prove those Doctors wrong. She was going to have a baby, one way or another.

So there we were. An ex actor from New York, who was running from everything. And a hippie chick witch, trying to find someone to sire her child, which the Doctors said she couldn't have. Believe it or not, she looked at me and thought I would be a good candidate. (She says she thought I had a good gene pool) And believe it or not, I said I would help her try. So she moved into my cabin. We started playing house and working on being dysfunctional, and we were doing a great job.

Thanksgiving came and went. The weather started getting colder as Christmas approached. Paula and I were starting to see the first signs of the break down of relationships that Doe Bay had seen time and again. She went home for Christmas and in true dysfunctional fashion, while she was gone, I started to miss her and fall in love with her. A whole week and I couldn't wait for her to return.

One afternoon I get a phone call from Texas. It's Paula and she is in a good mood. Call it magic. Call in luck or call it a miracle, but the news from the other end of the line went as follows, " I have something to tell you. I am pregnant." Silence. I was going to be a Father. Just like that. We were going to have a baby.

James Brown and Cowgirls (Our Story Part 2)

2007-11-27T09:34:00.001-08:00

She is 5'5". She has brown hair. She has green/blue eyes. And she is now the mother of my children. (I'm getting ahead of my self) I said she walked in , but to tell you the truth it was more like she, the gals from Texas she was with came rolling into the cafe. You could hear them coming down the hill. If you've never met a group of women from Texas, who have just come back from a James Brown concert, let me tell you this, they make a lot of noise. (In a good way) These girls were dressed to the hilt. Mini skirts, knee high go-go boots an array of hats and scarfs. The works. The welcome party had arrived and I was the new guy. This was going to be a great trip.

Everyone at Doe Bay was so cool. (Doe Bay was the name of the hippie resort) Most of the people were summer employees close to my age. There was Eric the cook/tattoo artist. Bobby the ex-pro golfer. Kerri the tall strong gal from Denver. Sweet gentle Bradly who was just back from Alaska. Tom the handsome Brit. And... Paula. (She's the 5'5", brown haired, green eyed lady) We all hit it off. Hanging out during they're free time. Smoking out, drinking beers and red wine. The days were cool and sunny. Nights were cold, quiet, and filled with new friends.I had not felt this free in along time.

I remember at one point running down the road to a cabin where my Mom was. As I ran I felt as if I was 7 years old again. I wasn't 26 and scared of life. I had a new start.I was hooked. I wasn't going back to New York. What did I have to go back to? Debt, worry, and a failing acting career? That was the package deal that was waiting for me back there. I had run from trouble before. This was a no brainer. I was starting over.

Part of getting to start over is the fact that you get to reinvent yourself. So I shaved the sides of my heads, dyed my hair with henna and bought my self a forest green hemp dress. (It looked like a mid-evil frock thing. Very manly.) I was a new man, or something like that. I had a new look. I had new friends. And that green eyed gal and I were hitting it off. Things were good, but there were some things I didn't know.

Our Story (Part 1)

2007-11-26T12:04:00.000-08:00

August 1995

New York was eating me alive. Living fast and playing hard was breaking me down emotionally, physically and spiritually. New York, the city that never sleeps. Where the best of the best come to give it a go. Most of us ended up waiting tables. After three years of attempting a professional acting career in the Big Apple I hit the wall.

My sister was living on an island in Washington State and was going to get married. I didn't have the money to get out there. Mom was convinced I was gonna die in NY NY. She was probably right. She told me she was flying me out for the wedding. I could stay at the resort she and Ish owned.(Ish and mom had been together sense I was 17) Now when I say resort I mean in the very rustic, earthy, hippy style.

I don't remember how I got the ticket for the plane. I don't remember how I got to the airport. I don't remember my last look at Manhatten Island. All I know is that I got to Washington. That the ferry ride from the main land to the island was long. And that those island were the greenest place I had seen in a long time. (Outside of Central Park which is locked in the middle of the concrete jungle) Those islands were beautiful.I felt myself relax as I soaked in the peace of not being in the big city.

No worries or responsibilitys.There were only three things I wanted. To see my new nephew who had been born in May. To forget about all of the junk I'd been dealing with in NY, and to find some people who liked to smoke out. This looked like the right place. Rainbow and rustic. Everything I needed.

Even the resort cafe was perfect. Wooden structure over looking the blue water bay. Wood burning stove for heat. Tables covered with butcher paper and crayons for drawing. Plus good hearty food. That's right where I was, sitting having dinner, looking really slick in my white button down shirt and khaki pant when she walked in...

Wash Me in the Water

2007-11-20T06:39:00.000-08:00

"I am blessed to baptise you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit." With those words I lowered my daughter into the frigid pool water. Actually I had to push to get her down because she kind of floated.

It had been threating to rain for a few days and I wasn't sure how the weather would be for her baptism. The day was cool, but in the sun it was warm enough. For the last year she has been asking to be baptised. I had told her in the states that we would do it in Portugal. Well here we are in Portugal. For the last month the Lord had been putting a strong need to do baptisms. So I figured this was it. Time for her to get baptised.

I don't know how was more nervouse, her or me. As we stood there at the poolside and I shared how this was her own faith not mine the thing that moved me most was the looks of love and tears on the faces of those who were there to support Eden in this step of faith.

We stepped into the pool and shock waves of cold ran up my spine. (November baptisims. Next time were doing them in Summer.) There we stood. My beautiful daughter and me. This little girl who was brought into this world by two very irresponsible, trippy, freaks. (Maybe I need to share our full story sometime) Looking down at her I realized that God really is in the buisness of life transformation. Our family is a perfect example.

Down under the water, taking her place with Jesus in his death and then back up into Life. Abundant life that is ever lasting. What a joy to be the Father of such a wonderful girl. What a blessing to be the one to baptise her. These are the things that really matter.I truely am a blessed, blessed man. You be blessed too.

A Time of Thanksgiving

2007-11-17T01:34:00.000-08:00

The news came yesterday that we are in trouble with our support. We have been struggling as the dollar falls lower and lower against the euro. Sometimes supporters can not afford to keep up with support. And on top of all that if looks as if our support level has been sitting at about 50% for awhile now. It would be easy for me to write about the bleakness of our situation, but just now out on the patio God showed me his Love and spoke to me of Thanksgiving.

I was starting to spiral into the hopelessness zone. That's the place where you start thinking "What are we going to do? This looks hopeless." Everyone has to deal with this from time to time. Sometimes it's money. Sometimes it's family problems. Sometimes it's just life. Being on the mission field doesn't stop it from happening. So that's where I found my self. That's where I went first thing this morning. Then God stepped in.

He spoke gently. In a way I could understand. Look around he said. Isn't it beautiful. I brought you here. See this appartment you are living in. I gave you that. Look inside see your beautiful kids and their friend Issac I have blessed you with that. Remember how Denny and Maureen were there to comfort you last night. That was me. Notice how even though you have been undersupported you haven't starved. Remember that car acciedent and how your car is getting fixed. Me again. Your friends, the prayer room, people loving you, the wonderful beach, the free coffee maker, the growth of the Matrix, learning to play guitar, the loan of the guitar to play, and so many other things. Do you think I will abandon you now?

The air was cool on the patio. Even knowing that there is alot of work to do to raise our support back up, I was filled with hope. Out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimps of a butterfly. A butterfly three stories up. "Thank you Jesus for the butterfly." My you be blessed and thankful.

WE PRAYED!

2007-11-13T08:52:00.000-08:00

I wish was in a better mood right now, but I am NOT! I'm ripped because I just had to pay 110 Euros to have my front door opened because we walked out the door and forgot to take our keys. This is all due to the fact that my house keys are on my car key ring and I have a rental car while my car gets fixed-up after the crunching it recieved last month.

Anyhow I'm letting off steam on my blog, when I had intended to talk about our 24/7 (actually 24/3) Prayer Room. If you're not familiar with 24/7 Prayer it is a prayer movment where people set-up a space/room with creative elements and they pray for 24 hours a day for 7 day. This goes on all over the world non-stop, people praying for the world around them.

Our 24/7 went from 4pm Friday afternoon to 8pmSunday night. Almost every hour was filled by our community. Friday night we kicked it off with worship and praise together. It was great. I had spent the whole day with Vikki prepairing the space and was so happy to hear people say that it was warm and enviting. The evening was cool and you could feel the excitment that people had in expectation of what God would do. There was laughter, tears, singing and the powerful feeling of Gods presence with us as we worship in that garage turned prayer room. Then the real prayer started.

I cannot say what experiances people had in that room because I was not in there every hour, but my time was great. I had a 3 am to 7 am slot that was awsome. Look up Malachi 1:11 and listen to the worship song "Famous One" if you want to hear a little of what God spoke to me. Others had great things to say about their time there as well. The walls grew richer and more colorful as people painted, drew, wrote out and experesssed their heart of prayer to God. Going from blank white paper walls, to colorful prayer filled walls is a breath taking experince everyone should have.

We finished our time together as a larger Matrix community. The place was packed with surfer, artists (the walls showed that), moms, dads, kids, new faces and old one, follwers of Christ, seekers, wonderers, singles, punks, and who knows what else. Looking around I realized how faithful God is. He is raising up and army on its knees. He is blessing our Lisboa Matrix community. He is bringing His people out of the wood work. We worshipped loud. We prayed deeply. We stood together. All of us. No matter who we were, or what we thought. We were a people of God. Praying to Him. Living in union with him and each other. Oh wow was it beautiful. I am grateful for what God is doing here and pray that he with keep pouring his spirit out on our community. Like I quoted before "Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God." Be Blessed

Dear God @ 24/7.life

2007-11-10T01:05:00.000-08:00

We are praying twenty four hours a day right now! Non-stop, around the clock. Like watch men on the wall. He says to ask and you will recieve. So we are asking.

What could happen?

Let's wait and see!

Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God!

(I think William Cary said that. I could be wrong.)

A Real Mans Man/(Boy)

2007-11-04T08:50:00.000-08:00

When I grow up I want to be just like my son. He is fearless and care not what the world thinks. He has these really square guy feet. They're like little bricks. In fact he is a little brick. Even seince he was a baby he has been a brick. That stuff on his face isn't mud it's octopus ink.

Today, after house church, he and I walk down to the beach to sit in the sun and read (If we felt like it.) We sat by the sea pool at the Estoril beach and he proceded to foot slide on the moss around the sea pool, in his Speedo .( A trick he learned from Dane Uhler and Jesse Borden. Not the Speedo part, just the sliding) It was fun and I almost stopped him a few times because I thought he could get hurt doing it. Foot sliding is the same thing as sock sliding on a wood floor, but you are bare foot on moss. But I held my tounge and watched him have a blast, and a few spills. I was glad he didn't bust his head.

It was a good father/son time. We drank sodas and enjoyed the sun. There was a constant courus of "Hey Dad watch this!" Followed by a death defying slide of about 6ft. The reserved Portugese watched out of the cornder of their eye. I mean what was this kid doing running around in a swimming suit in November, even if it was 80 degrees out today. I thought this is just what he needs so who cares what anyone thinks. Then came the call. Dad, dad, dad, look. Come look! It's an octopus." The sea pools is only about 2 ft deep at the shallow end and the water was crystal clear, so you could see really well. Sure enough there was a small octopus there. Its head was about the size of an egg plant. Noah was in the water in a flash. I'm yelling Grab it! Grab it!

Now let me be honest I would have been nervous grabbing it, but buddy boy went right at it. I'm yelling Grab it!, but in my head i'm thinking, "Do octopus have those beaks that can take chunks out of you?" It's in the rocks at the side of the pool and Noah is sticking his arm under there, face in the water becuase he has to dig under the rocks. The little think skirts to a new spot and then Noah screams. His arm flashes out of the water. "Did you see that he tried to grab me and pull me in." Then he grabs for him again and brings that little guys up to the edge. There is a thrashing and BAM! Black ink in the face. At that point I would have dropped him, but my boy held on and we landed that little guy buy hand. The smile was worth a million bucks.

We looked at him and set him back in the water. Those little suction cups really do stick to ya, I'll tell you that. With our hunting victory fresh in our minds we headed home. Our spirit of adventure well satisfied. I told him if I knew how to cook octopus we could have eatten him. He said he's a catch and release kind of guy. Sensetive, tough, fearless and enviromentally consience. Like I said, when I grow up I want to be like my son.

A weeks Worth of Words to Use Up

2007-10-29T09:16:00.000-07:00

My blogs have been slow in coming lately and that is a good and bad thing. It is good because I have been busy. It's bad because I feel like I want to keep you up dated on things in our life. If you will forgive me I will jump back about a week and fill in the gaps.

As you know there were huge fires in our home town this last week. I'll be honest I spent a lot of time watching CNN. But before the fire's made everything else in my world feel small, we had gone about an hour North of our house and spent the weekend together as a team. It was a time of planning and rest. A time of prayer and play. A time to reflect together and rejoice together. My top 3 moments were, in this order;

1. Noah getting to help butcher the neighbors pig. ( I will post pics when I get them from Scott)
2. Sunday morning communion with our whole team.
3. An afternoon of fun where visited the largest underground cavern in Portugal.

As is usual now the week was filled with school, drama, meetings and the like. House church was at our place this last weekend, so there was the cleaning frenzy that accompanies that. It is a good thing that we will be grafting off into two groups in a few weeks, because our place , which used to be big enough seems to have shrank. We were fill to capacity. God is faithful! Things are popping here and we are praying that it just keeps coming. We have a weekend of 24/7 prayer in November. So be praying that God will speak to our community in fresh and powerful ways.

On a more personal note, I had my very first strait razor shave today. It was sooooo cool. I had heard that you could get one around here somewhere but I wasn't ever able to find one, till today. And let me tell you it was one of the closest shaves I've ever had. What and experience. Sitting in the chair, while this older Portuguese gentlemen slowly pulls that razor sharp piece of steel across your throat. The short rasping noises of the whiskers being striped away. And the sting of the after shave on that close shave. Smooth as a baby's bottom, and that's no joke.

Ok gotta run. Kids need to do homework and P's down stairs with Berta, our 85 year old neighbor, having afternoon tea. Expect great things from God and Attempt great things for God.
Be Blessed

Watching Fires a world apart

2007-10-25T01:13:00.000-07:00

Our prayers are with those of you who are in the California area. Many of our friends and family live in areas that are being hit by the wild fires. We have been lifting you and your loved ones up in prayer daily. We have talked with our loved ones and all of them are fine.
It is a helpless feeling to be so far away and watch as your home town is consumed by flames. Sitting and watching CNN is the only thing that we can do. Our home in Escondido seems to have been spared the worst, but you can't help but wonder if shifting winds could change that fact.

May God keep you and shelter you under His wing. May you know His ever loving kindness in the midst of this disaster. May you know that you are not alone and that our God is greater than any all consuming fire.

May God Bless you where ever you are today.

Warning: Graphic Content

2007-10-19T03:59:00.000-07:00

I am about to get very real with you. If you are scared or have a weak stomach stop reading now...

Okay I warned you.

There should never be blood in the toilet when you are done, if you get my drift.

First thought, "Oh wonderful and we have a team retreat this weekend." Then there is this little film that plays in your head.

FADE IN

DOCTORS OFFICE

DOCTOR: I'm sorry Mr. Farmer.

ME: What is it Doc?

DOCTOR: We don't know, all I can tell you is you have a week to live.

I always knew this would happen. Sometimes I get pains that I've never had before and I'm pretty sure they are fatal. This time the proof is bright red. I need someone to back me up on all this scary stuff. My wife is a mom, she's seen all sorts of gross stuff.

"Honey would you come at look at this?"

To which she responds (knowing I'm in the bathroom) "Look at what?"

"Just come and look at this and tell me what you think."

Together we decide that it is not good.

I am alone. I will be brave. Everything seems weird. This is bad. I'll ignore it.Maybe I will blog my experience as I live through it. I want to be a strong witness. To show the world the hope and faith I have in Jesus. "To live is Christ. To die is gain."
What's going to happen to Paula and the kids. It's my fault. I didn't take care of my body. P's scared. I can see it in her eye's.I'm not even forty yet. I should have exercised more. I should have eaten better. It's funny how just yesterday I started thinking about health. As Vikki and I cleaned out her garage. We juiced some carrots, apples...ginger...and !?!

I grab the cell phone. Punch in Vikki's number. Rings once. Rings Twice. (British accent) 'Ello?

"Vikki can beet juice make your poop red?"

"Oh yes that's totally normal. Don't worry."

DON"T WORRY!?! I am so happy...I AM NOT GOING TO DIE! YES!
At least not yet.

So Be Blessed and be careful of the beet juice.

Books, Money and Memories

2007-10-16T14:22:00.000-07:00

I have a memory from childhood. It is sweet and powerful to me. I remember my dad bringing me home a stack of books that he had read when he was a kid. Books like "Lord of the Flies" and "The Ox Bow Incident". I don't know why it is such a strong memory for me. Maybe it was the fact that he thought of me enough to stop and buy the books just for me. Maybe it was because they were part of him, and by reading them I would know who he was better. What ever the reason I hold it close to my heart.

Today we had no car. It was in the shop getting looked at by the insurance guy. (Side note;the insurance company is going to fix my car. If they don't classify it as a totaled.) So we had to walk home with the kids from school. Here's the kids reaction. """Ahwwwwww man! Why do we have to walk." My reaction was, "You ungrateful little wretches! Be glad you don't have to walk every day. What if you didn't have legs and couldn't walk at all?" Things got better from there.
Noah found a cigarette box to kick all the way down to Cascais. We talked and laughed and then we went and got ice cream. Santinni's to be exact. The best gelado in Portugal, for those of you who don't know what Santinni's is. The weather was warm and we were happy. I wandered over to the little book store at the end of the block, where they carry a limit selection of English books and thumbed through the stack.
Eden has discovered Nancy Drew as of late, and guess what, there was Nancy Drew #72. I yelled down to her and said " Hey Eden come and look at this." She was so excited to see Nancy Drew. ( Do you think God gets that warm fuzzy feeling when He gives us something we like or want?)
There were more English books down stairs. Down we went. Books, books and more book. Books on business. Books on love. Books on witchcraft, new age and Christianity.Kids books, novels, and history's. Old books and new books. It was a scene right out of a movie. I even found a shelf of leather bound books in really bad condition, but they look so cool. I fell in love with them right away.
So we bought our books, and headed home. 8 euros for Gelado, 7 euros for a few book, & memories of today, priceless. Up the street we go, headed for the train. As we came to the round about I looked down and there in the gutter is a ten euro bill. "Eden pick it up." I say. Sure enough that's what it is, ten euros. When is the last time you found ten buck in the street. On to the train. Home to Estoril. Off the train and headed for the casino gardens to sit and do home work for awhile. Noah looks down. There in the dirt and trash at the side of the road is a two euro coin. No were almost even. Books+Gelado+Train=19 euro. Money found on the ground 10 euro+2 euro=12. A 7 euro difference. Then as if a joke at this point. Eden sits down and finds 5 cents. What? You can't help but laugh. Free money three times in one day?
At the casino park we run into one of Edens friends. The kids are able to play together and have a really great time. Memories; family, ice cream, trains, books, laughing, talking and finding money. I couldn't of asked for a better day. And all because we had the car in being inspected after I wrecked it. Being inspected brought unexpected joy. Wish everyday was this good, but I'll take em when I can get them.

Be Blessed and don't forget to dig around under the couch cushion.

All Creation Groans

2007-10-14T00:11:00.000-07:00

"We don't want our beautiful ocean dirty, or our earth that God created dirty." This is what Elisha said while we were picking up trash down at Boca de Inferno. (The Mouth of Hell) Such a simple statement, yet so true. From the mouths of babes.

Noah, Elisha and I went to the Park in Cascais yesterday for some hang out and play time. We took a walk over to the rocky cliffs at Boca de Inferno, that over looks the sea. There's this cool place where you an climb down through this old broken down building that sits between the rock. The building has this big wall to keep the sea out. You stand up on top and look down into this pit, where the water is shallow and the shadows deep. The ocean has to fight it's way through a small hole in the wall. It feels sacred and secret.

Every time I go there I think this would be such a cool place for baptisms, but the whole area is trashy. People seem to think because it's hidden it's ok to just drop trash everywhere. Even down in the cool secret spot. I've wanted to get some people together and go clean it up. So that what we did yesterday. We started cleaning up.

It was so wonderful. Two little boys and me. The ocean spraying up over the wall. The sun shining down. We were restoring creation. We were serving our city. We were growing in our walk. We were playing. We were fellowshipping and disciplining each other. It was truly a deep spiritual time for me and fun for the boys. I sure hope they let me do it with them again. And who know, maybe we will do baptisms down there someday. I hope so.

Shalom and be blessed

And there was Evening, and there was Morning

2007-10-13T00:50:00.000-07:00

Monday
What happened Monday?
It's like clouds
that were blown
away
over the distant hills
a thought
that eludes
I can't
quite picture it
But I remember I was there.

Then a new morning
the second day
the chaos has form
the light is on my face
as we bow low our hearts
sore and hopeful
before His Majesty
Asking
and waiting
for Divine appointments
Which seemed to involve the side of my car

Arise again
A new day dawns
The third in so many days
All tangled and bent
In the reality of living
Where did it lead me
Where will my peace come from
The steady breathing
In and out
In and out
In and out
Til I remember
I am Fearless
He has made me that way
And I rejoice
I'll say it again Rejoice
In the memory

Day four
A new light
A new dawn
Arise oh sleeper
In the darkness I sit
At His feet
Like Adam
I am dust
They cradle me
Breath into my nostrils
Filling the void
All three of them
The One
I Am
The three in one
They cradle me
They remember me
And I am filled again
With love
Starting new
Like a fire
Fanned back into
An inferno

Now I breath again
Now I see
again
Now I taste
again
Now start
again
Always Listening
Smelling
Tasting
Waiting
For what has always been
In this half light
This dawn
Of this new day

Quick don't think...What would you do?

2007-10-09T08:43:00.000-07:00

You have just finished a full morning of prayer with friends. As you round the corner heading home, up the hill you see a white car in the middle of the road. The next thing you notice is this older woman half in half out of the car. She is leaning into the car trying to grab something, or pull something...what is she doing? Hold the phone that car is rolling backwards, down the hill. The woman is still trying to do what ever she's doing, but the driver side door hits her, slamming her to the ground, rolling her head over heels. Did the car run her over? What is going on? But wait that car is coming backwards fast with no one driving it. It's moving in your direction!

What do you do? Did you have a chance to look around and see if there were any little Portuguese kids or old ladies walking up the side of the street? Are there any cars behind you? What should you do? Get out of the way and let the car race on down the street out of control, or use your older Peugeot 505 (the little gray tank), to take the hit and stop the white car?

Now I don't know about you but I have these moments when I'm driving along and I wonder "What would I do right now if my brakes went out?" I always figured I'd drag the side of my car along that _______, (you fill in the blank), til it was stopped. So as I watched that little white car zooming down the hill at me, that's the process my brain went thorough. I wonder if I can stop that out of control car by pinching it between my car and the curb.
Here came the car. My brain is saying, "Do it! No don't do it! Should I do it? Yes do it! No! Shut up and STOP THAT CAR!!!" So, I side swiped the little white car with my beloved Peugeot. You know that breaking glass, crunching metal sound? Enough said. The car was stopped. The day was saved. The woman came wobbling down the hill. The neighbors came out to look and I was the...Hero? No I was wondering why I just sacrificed my car for this lady. It really messed our cars up, hers more than mine. Her door was crushed between our cars, opened all the way up, the wrong way. And her back tire was on a funny slant.
The one blessing was that even though my right headlight was smashed, my right front fender scraped up, the two right doors crushed in and the rear right fender scraped up, and a pretty good impact in general was given to the car. Everything still worked. Electric windows went up and down, doors opened and closed and even the headlight still worked. So great. The car looks bad, but it fits in with everyone elses. And I did get a chance to pray for this lady. That's was nice.
So there. That's what I would do with out thinking. Great! I'd mess up my car and get to talk to the police. (Who were really nice.) My insurance guy just looked at me like, "Are you nuts!?!" Yes I probably am. Sorry Bordens, but really glad she is such a good strong car! (Why are cars and ships she's?)
Next week...A pack of wild dogs is running down the street chasing a small child. What do you do? ...Lets hope not. OK don't cross the double yellow line and call us when you get home. Blessings

Top Ten Things I Loved This Week

2007-10-07T10:41:00.000-07:00

#10 Our house church Grace packed to the gills. (We'll need to multiply into two house churches soon.)

#9 Playing guitar with Christian in the attic while we waited for Jasmin to come up and pray with us. (I am learning slowly and my fingers are soooo sore.)

#8 Performing Miss Mayas Place for Thursday morning chapel at the kids school. (I wrote it, we rehearsed it, and performed it in one week. Never again!)

#7 Sunday afternoon lunch at the Hursts new house. We had some great cheese that they brought with them from Italy. (And their new house is awesome.)

#6 Screaming and yelling for each other as 20 of us took surf lessons together at surf camp. (They said they could hear us at the other end of the beach.)

#5 Playing tip Frisbee in the grass area by the cafe at Christian Surfers Portugal's 3 day surf camp. (I'd explain the game but it would take to long. Let's just say it was sooo fun.)

#4 Surfing with Jason Gregg and Chris Gonzalez after our surf lesson. (Three amateurs having a blast in the sun and surf.)

#3 Watching Zac lead Christian Surfers Portugal's surf camp and be right in his element. (I was really proud of my team mate. He put a lot of work into Surf Camp. Along with Marty, Carrie, and Hillary.)

#2 Dancing last night at the little cafe at surf camp with 7 or 8 new Portuguese friends whom I'd met at Surf Camp. (I figured that I'd might as well stay up and dance because we were camping right by the cafe and the music was SUPER LOUD. I went to bed around 1:30. The music finally stopped around 3:00. Sure I was tired from surfing all day, but it was still fun dancing.)

And my #1 on my Top Ten Count down for the week...( If you haven't guessed yet.)

#1 Christians Surfers Portugal's 3 day Surf Camp. It was amazing. Americans and Portuguese, young and old. Professional competition surfers and first time surfers. Followers of Christ and those who those who hadn't heard before. We had an great time and I believe that people heard clearly who Jesus is and what Christian Surfers Portugal is about.

Okay enjoy your week and paddle hard. That's how you catch the waves. Be Blessed

As the World Turns

2007-09-30T12:27:00.000-07:00

So about this time last year we were trying to get settled. Noah hated everything that we ate. Living near the ocean was novel. I was constantly telling the kids to be quiet because of Berta who lives down stairs. And things in general were incredibly hard. Such as grocery shopping. It is so nice to feel like we can function now.

This last week was busy and rewarding. Arron from England was with us until Thursday. It was nice to get to know him. We shared some good times and just plain life for the last couple of weeks.

P was busy this week getting ServetheCity park day ready for Casa Sol. She and Jordan did a great job. There were 21 kids and almost as many volunteers.We played lots of games, ate lots of food and enjoyed service and community. My favorite memory was Ananis, an 11 year old girl who is very handicapped and confined to a wheel chair, playing the bowling game. The other kids were kicking a soccer ball at water bottles set up like pins. As she watched the kids playing she caught my eye and flailed her arm out at the game. Then she slapped her chest. I was sure she wanted to try. We rolled her right over to the bottles and rolled the ball down her stomach and legs. As the ball hit the bottles and the bottles fell over she shrieked with joy and smiled so big I thought her face would explode. It really is the little things that mean a lot.

And in family news...

The kids are doing great at their new school, ICSC. They love their teachers and their friends. Both of them are really doing well in their studies. Noah had been nailing history and Eden is cranking in math. It is so good to see them thrive.

The Hurst family arrived last night tired from two days on the road from Italy. It is exciting to have them moving here. They said they packed in the rain and when they got here they unloaded in the rain.They must have brought the rain with them, because it's been raining for two days. Winter is coming. What happened to Summer?

Also yesterday night a cute little stray Jack Russel followed P home. So we let him stay the night with us, out of the rain. Now he likes to come and stand at the down stairs front door. We are a shelter from the storm for strays and wanderers.

Well I'm going to go enjoy the rest my Sunday and visit with the Hursts. Enjoy your Sunday and Be Blessed.

Fearless Word Association

2007-09-26T05:54:00.000-07:00

Word was the first thing that I found on this screen. And some how I feel like I have to create some profound thought that opens the world up to you. Something that speaks of Jesus and isn't edited. Something that is raw and beautiful and makes you smile and laugh. Something that doesn't worry about what you think, but I can't. I can't do it. I can't even type fast enough to get my thoughts out in a flow. But I try and I hate what I write. It's like a crude JaCK KerOuAK nOVEL. WITH A LOT OF TYPE O'S. So,... (deep breath)... and forget that you might be reading this. Just let the words come, as the ipod plays music in my ears. (Music) "Like the wind you go." Distracted by my thoughts and the music. I think about the day and all of the busyness from teaching and trying. Why do I feel like I have to be anything? Isn't it enough to just be in the midst of who Jesus sees me as. And my ...Oh I don't know. What is that loud noise that I can hear over the music. Take out my ear piece. Look around. It's just the trash guy. Oh yes the music. (Music) "It's ALL ABOUT JESUS. IT'S all about JESUS. And their preoccupied with always doing it right." And that music speaks to me right where I'm at. I'm right here. Trying to find my purity. Trying to live and be open and honest with you. It is all about Jesus. (Music) " It is well, it is well with my soul!"

Jenelle thanks for the inspiration. Be blessed

PS Little baby Leticia is back home with her mommy. Be blessed little one.

How can I be mad?

2007-09-24T01:03:00.000-07:00

Last night P went to visit our Angolan friend Visoo. Visoo was part of our second ServetheCity that partnered with Start to Share. It was supposed to be a little Sunday afternoon coffee and chatting. Oh what a laugh. To think that anything will ever go the way we expect.

I expected that she would be gone a couple of hours. Instead, as you can see from the picture to the right, we ended up with a baby. Now my friend the Greggs had that happen. They ended up getting a baby when they didn't expect it. But theirs is still in womb. It's taking awhile. Ours came in one day. Technically she's not ours. See her mama is in Spain. She took a bus there to abort her 13 week old twins. I guess she didn't have any other options as to what she could do with her kids, because she left her 7 yr old, 4 yr old and 9 month old, Leticia, with her 15 year old nephew, who is in the 4th grade and feeding her Chorizo soup. WHAT?!?

So P call's and says she's bringing home baby Leticia. I, being so Christ like, responded WHAT!? She being very Jesus like said "We were just talking about what an amazing man you are and how well you would take this." I, in my Christ like fashion, responded "MMMMMM!!! Fine bring her home."

Which brings me to the car, which is in Lisbon, and not at my apartment...but maybe I'll share that part later. Right now Leticia is safe, not eating Chorizo soup and getting a lot of love from Tia (Aunt) P. Pray for Leticia's mama. Be Blessed and remember the widows and orphans.

Church Plant

2007-09-21T01:14:00.000-07:00

This poor little guy has had a hard time as of late. When he came to live with us. He was in bad shape. In the process of being moved he was placed in a garbage bag to protect him. As it was summer the short hour he sat in the car before being transported to our house did some major damage to him. You can see that the whole center section has had the dead part trimmed off. He looks a little funky, but who am I to talk. I wake up to my self every morning.

So why am I rambling on about our plant you ask? Well he just got the dead parts trimmed off yesterday and after I had finished I was looking at him and I thought, "I can't believe he survived." (I like calling it a he. It gives him personality.) I wanted him to survive, but we received him right before our trip to Hungry and we were going to be gone so I figured, he might not make it. Such is life. So I stuck him in the plant bed out side and left him til later.

Later came and I kind of just left him with the other plants. He got a little water, but he looked bad. His pot was leaning over side ways in the other flower bush and he had all these brown parts that made him look almost dead.So i decided yesterday to get him out of there and see if there was any hope.

I got him out of the planter, cut off the dead stuff and took a look at him. What do you know, he was a little beat-up, but alive and had even put off new growth.

That's when I remembered something Gerard Kelly had said at CONNECT, (our yearly conference). He had said that some people think the church in Europe is dead, but that it will not die unless God gives up on it and God has not given up on the church in Europe.

So I was looking at this poor plant and I thought "Yes, maybe this old plant looked dead, and I had to cut a bunch of dead parts off, but it is alive and new growth is happening."

Yes maybe the church in Europe needs to have some dead trimmed off. Yes, maybe some people figure it's dying or dead. Yes, maybe it's had some damage done and now it looks a little funky. That's okay. God's not finished with it yet. He is the master gardener. After He's trimmed it up, it will thrive.

So, now I have my own little church plant, to remind me that God will finish what He started. I think I'll name him Luther. The plant, not God. Be Blessed and let's all work on trimming off the dead parts.

Last Week

2007-09-17T02:25:00.000-07:00

The cool of Fall in the air. The smell of the sea and moisture in the air. Looking around I wonder where the weeks has gone. Sunday is always so busy, but this was a lovely restful Sunday. Over the last week we have had a number of people living with us. Four different German girls and a fellow for the UK. Beautiful people. Three of them had been out at Baba's land. What a blessing to have these people be a part of our life for awhile. Especially the lives of our kids.
So anyhow yesterday was a wonderful Sunday. After meeting at Scott and Terri's house with our Grace community, I came home to my sick little family. Eden had been running a fever, Noah had one of those frog coughs and P had this crazy rash that covered her whole body. So they stayed home. After a busy week of school, teaching, team meetings, basic life, visitor, and sickness, I was ready for a down day. And I got it. A lovely time of visiting with Arron and listening to great music. Time to laugh, bar-b-que sausages and make pizza. A time to eat together and fellowship together. A time to sit and read Nancy Drew. A time to play with Lego's and read animal joke books. A time to prepare for the week ahead. A time to hear each others stories and live in the midst of His love.
I hope you will find a place of rest sometime this week. A place to laugh, and eat and love in the presence of God. Be Blessed

From Here to Eternity

2007-09-10T13:56:00.000-07:00

A year ago we could hardly function. A day might go something like, what are we going to do today? Do we have food? Better go to Jumbo. You want to go? Let's all go. The kids reply, we don't want to go. Ok let's go. No let's just get frango. (Roasted chicken) No we need toilet paper, let's just go to Jumbo and get it over with. OK let's go.
After three hours of wandering around Jumbo dazed and confused we finally check out and head home with our two little bags of groceries. After walking in the door we realize we have no toilet paper and didn't purchase anything that we can make a full meal out of. So I go and buy chicken.
One year later. Today we...
*Took the kids to school.
*Took care of the rental contract.
*Worked with the AIDS orphanage.
*Helped George with his painting job.
*Went to Aki and bought supplies for Casa Sol.
*Call the consulate in Spain.
*Went grocery shopping.
*Made dinner for our German friends.
*Taught theatre to 5th and 6th graders.
*Put mins. on our cell phone.
*Went to the post office.
*Did home work with the kids.
*Did laundry. Wash, line dried and folded.
*Cleaned the kitchen.
*Wrote the blog.
So as you can see, a year can really make a difference. wish we were always this productive.
Be blessed.

Stories of Life

2007-09-08T03:32:00.001-07:00

So awhile ago I promised you I would try and put the Monkey story on my blog. I'm sorry it took so long but here it is. This dates back to our service day in Vienna, on August the 12th. I will try to capture the essence of the story as told to me by my wife, daughter and one Mr. Troy Cady.
It was a warm, muggy summers day in the city of Vienna and About 300 people from Christian Associates were heading out in my different direction to do service project for ServetheCity, Vienna. My son and I were part of the street performance team which I was heading up while my wife and daughter had been slotted to help clean up and animal shelter.
Their trip started off with a nice long walk to the shelter, a nice long walk in which they proceeded to get really lost. It was a good thing that Eric Folbrect, who was our CAI point man, had set up ways to contact people if we ended up lost or needing advice on any situation. They were finally able to get to the shelter and proceed with the animal shelter clean up.
Now I don't know about y0u, but for some reason, when I hear that someone is working at the animal shelter I figure they will be working with animals. Wrong. With kids in tow they were shown the road around the shelter and were put to work preparing it for re-paving. Hot, hard, dirty, physical work. But being the spiritual giants they are, they just jumped right in and started cleaning with out a word of complaint. (I have no idea if that true. I just thought it sounded good.) Anyhow they did the work that was needed and then were shown around the shelter. What pops into your mind when I say animal shelter? Puppies or kitties? What about tigers or giant chimpanzies? Well if you said dogs and cats you'd be wrong.
So here comes the monkey part. They see the tiger that is only kept from them by chain link fence, then are shown the giant chimpanze. This chimp stands about five feet tall and was once a lab chimp. He looks like a giant monkey on steroids. Not only that but he is very aggressive. As they watch him in his cage he starts swaying back and forth, then suddenly he picks up this boot that is in the enclosure and throws it at the plexiglass. Big scream from the crowd. AAAAHHHH! Then he leaps at the glass but misses and falls into the pit in front of the glass. No one could believe it and they all watched as he scrambled back out of the pit to go watch them from the little hill in the enclosure.
My daughter was really glad there was glass there because he didn't look like a friendly monkey. But now he was acting weird again. Standing at the back of the enclosure he starts hopping up and down getting higher and higher, banging the steel door of his enclosure as he does. Screaming Tarzan like monkey screams. Higher and higher. Then suddenly he launches him self from the back of the enclosure, across the pit right into the glass in front of them. BAM! Just like one of those George of the Jungle, hitting the tree moments and slides down into the pit. Everyone screamed like a girl;)
Now even though chimpzilla was poorly behaved, you have to understand he had not had such a great life, being a scientific experiment chimp and all. So in the end they really felt sad for the poor fellow. And anyhow they had a great story to share with the rest of us that night at the b-b-q. If any of you know Terri Last you should ask her to tell you her pig in the subway story.
All right that's about it. Hope I did the monkey story justice. Be Blessed and watch out for monkeys on steroids.

Back to School

2007-09-06T13:49:00.000-07:00

Top three things I like about the kids going back to school...

1. The kids are happy.

2. I am happy.

3. P is happy.

The kids are loving school so much. I wish I had some pictures to show you, but alas no luck. Eden is making lots of friends and Noah seems to be enjoying school as well. Even though Noah never seems to be hot on "boring" studies, he's ready for his spelling test tomorrow and doesn't seem to really mind getting up at 7:00 am. He was getting up at around 10:30 over the summer. It's a new school year and we are starting a new season of life. Were just glad that we were graded on a curve this last year. Be Blessed and I'll meet you at the monkey bars at lunch.

Night and Day

2007-09-01T04:53:00.000-07:00

For the past week we have been up to our necks painting and repairing Casa Sol. Start to Share a volunteer organization from Holland came down to fix up the inside of the place while the kids were away for holiday. The pictures to the right show the before and after work that was done.
Once again we built amazing relationships with some amazing people. This was Start to Shares first event and Serve the City, Lisboa was privledged to get to partner with them. Our community here in Lisbon really poured themselves out to get this thing done. There was more work than people and yet somehow it got done. The pay off was seeing the faces of these kids when they walked into their home and saw it all fixed up. so yes I am tired and sore but who am I to complain. I live in a nice home,with my little family and don't have AIDS. Now to find ways to connect with these kids in relational ways. More than stuff and fixing up their home, what they need is love. One on one love from people who are part of their lives. People who know them.
In other news...The kids start school on Monday. They are very excited and so are we. Also I will be starting to teach drama to the k-4th graders once a week and the 7-8th graders once a week. God rocks! Not only do I get to do something I love and use my gifting, but it will help bring down the cost of school tuition for the kids.
So that's a brief up date and idea of life here. P is busy with ServetheCity and our community is continuing to grow. Be Blessed and remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

To Do Today

2007-08-30T01:29:00.000-07:00

1. Finish painting Casa Sol before the kids get home on Friday. (The place looks so much better all ready. Check out how moldy all the ceilings were in this place. Not good for kids with AIDS.)

2. Say good bye to the Hurst before they head back to Italy. (We will miss them till they move back here in October.)

3. Mail in our rental contract for this next year. (Wow, one year almost.)

4. Work on school stuff. (Kids go back to school on Monday and I start teaching theatre classes there the next week.)

Ok so I had better get running if i'm going to get anything done today. Be Blessed

Catching Up

2007-08-26T05:18:00.000-07:00

Well we are back from our week long conference in Hungry and a short holiday in the mountains of central Portugal. There is to much news to tell you everything, but here are some highlights...

* We were really inspired to go deeper with God because of the teaching from Philippians at "Connect". Our speaker, the pastor of Cross Roads Amsterdam, was amazing.We looked at our suffering with Jesus and God not being done with the church here in Europe. Plus many other things. You might want to look at Philip. 3:12-14. Good stuff.

*Our first day at "Connect" we went into Vienna and did a one day ServetheCity event. Paula and Eden helped clean up an animal shelter. Noah and I worked with a group of people doing street theatre. Once again amazing things happened. I'll see if I can get some info up about the giant monkey that was out of his head crazy at the shelter and our encounter with the police doing street theatre.

*The kids had a wonderful time at the "Connect"/conference. They swam, made new friends from places like Romania, France, and Holland, enjoyed kids camp and over all wore themselves out.

*Eden celebrated her 11th birthday in the airport of Vienna. Poor things b-day fell on our big travel day. The down side was it was not a birthday party b-day. The up side was getting to hang out at the Starbucks in the airport all day. Plus she got almost anything she asked for that day, due to the guilt of no being able to really celebrate her special day.

*Our camping trip to central Portugal was much needed. We re-grouped as a family. Had fun together. Read books, went swimming in the river, jumped on the trampoline, laughed alot and saw some amazing Roman ruins on our way back home.

So that a little idea of the last few weeks. Like I said there's so much more I could tell you about. I'll try to get a couple of stories on in the next few day. Probably Tuesday, because I'm going to be out at Casa Sol painting tomorrow. Hope you have all had a great summer. Miss ya and can't wait to talk to you. Be Blessed

Learning to PLAY

2007-08-05T23:21:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid I used to play. One of my favorite things to do was to go ride bikes with my friend Billy. Billy was a half Greek and Half Spanish boy with a smile to charm old Scratch himself. I loved hanging out with him. He was my best friend and we did everything together. Swim, bike, find old chewing tobacco in the high school baseball dug out and chew it. Walk old news papers down to the recycling in the 100 degree heat for cash, after chewing the tobacco. Buy lunch with the money we got from the newspapers. Then puke all over the front of the restaurant from the tobacco and the heat. It was great. We played. We played all the time.

So what happened? When did I forget how to play? I don't know. I look around and I see all these people who like to go out and play. The bikers. The surfers. The musicians. The campers. They know how to play and I don't. Something in me wants to play, but something else says "Nah". But that is all changing.

I am discovering my inner child. The one who wanted to go fishing and ride his bike and go to the beach. I am learning to play guitar. Well actually I am practicing guitar. I stink but that's ok. It's part of the process and the process in getting to something is the biggest part of the thing it's self. I am also learning to surf. Yes I know your saying, "You've lived in Portugal, one of the best surfing spot, and you haven't tried to surf?" Well I can say that I was able to get up the other day on my learner board. It was great. I spent the whole day wearing my self out surfing.

So I am learning to play again. I am learning to let myself relax a little. I am finding that little Spence and taking him to the beach. Want to come out and play?

All's Well that Ends Well

2007-07-31T03:56:00.000-07:00

Well here we are, three days after SERVE THE CITY, LISBOA, and we seem to have survived. All I can say is WOW! We had sooooo much work, and sooooo many people showed up to give their time for these two orphanages. It was awesome.

On Saturday night we had a "Grande Fiesta". As I looked around at all the smiling faces, i realized what an amazing thing we had all just experienced together. There was lots of food, drink, music and dancing. Awards were given out to the kids from surf camp. We had a celebrity from one of the favorite TV shows there. The kids were laughing. We were laughing. And I think God was laughing as well. At least I imagine He was. How could he not?

In four days we were able to give surf lessons to 15 kids from ALDIEA SOS. Re-paint an enormous multi-purpose room, plus bathrooms and hall at ALDIEA SOS. Paint the outer two walls of the recreation room at ALDIEA SOS. Put up a shade for the play area at CASA SOL. And repaint the in side court yard and out side wall of CASA SOL. (See picture above) It was a very long wall.

Peoples lives were touched. Peoples lives were changed. And God showed up in really cool ways. We had moments where we weren't sure we were going to get it off the ground. There were times when I thought this thing isn't going to get done. Then were times when I thought I love this and I hate this, but when all is said and done, I wouldn't trade it for the world. Blessings

Puking for Jesus-DAY 3 STC

2007-07-27T11:07:00.000-07:00

So here we are at the end of day three of SERVE THE CITY LISBON. We have painted the court yard and outer wall of CASA SOL. That was a lot of work, but it sure felt great to see it when we were finished. We also put up a sunshade for the kids in an area that was blasted by the sun each afternoon, making playing almost impossible. Tomorrow everyone is at ALDIEA SOS. There is still a lot to do so please pray it finishes well.

So now for my story of the day. We left early this morning so we could pick-up Pasteis de Belem for all the workers. Noah is never the easiest person to get rolling in the morning, and this morning was no exception. He always has some pain or ill feeling when we need him to do something he doesn't want to do. So this morning he was complaining about his stomach. Well you can probably guess what's coming, but I'll fill you in.

We get to CASA SOL and start to work. Both the kids have been big helpers. So Eden jumped in, but Noah was kind of not in the game. I told him to rest and stay in the shade. It's really hot at CASA SOL. After awhile he came out and help, but then needed to rest in the shade again. I let him. I didn't want to hear him whine.

So there I am out on the street painting the outside wall and all of the sudden I hear Paula say "Keep going! Try to get out to the gutter!" Then I see Noah Puke with as much force as a fire hose. He takes two more steps out the door, and he does it again. Were all yelling "Get to the gutter!" And he's puking his guts up.

So yes we finished the work at CASA SOL, but not at a cost. Noah and Paula went home at lunch. He was a trouper and waited to go home at lunch. Right now he's sitting on the couch watching TV. He told me he puked out his nose two this afternoon. Pray he feels better so he can enjoy the Grande Fiesta tomorrow night. Be Blessed.

Kids, Work, and Blessings

2007-07-26T10:56:00.000-07:00

So here are a few pics of the work being done. This was the first day at Aldiea SOS. We are sunburned, tired, and very content to be doing this work. We have had many people volunteer and spirits are up. SERVE THE CITY, Lisbon is going well. Please keep praying for us as we build relationship, and put muscle to the gospel. We are all blessed to be a blessing. You be Blessed too.

STC One Day Down

2007-07-25T10:31:00.001-07:00

This picture is of Aldiea SOS the orphanage with 80 kids. It was the second of two projects that the Farmer family worked on today. The first was Casa Sol, the children's AIDS home for orphaned kids. In total we had about 30 people turn up for these two service project. It was wonderful to watch the outdoor court yard wall being transformed right before our eyes. Even though paint wasn't even applied yet, the improvement was drastic.

At one point I was inside Casa Sol, refilling water buckets to wash the walls. And two little girls, tiny little things, came around the corner to see what I was doing. They were the sweetest little things. Speaking my very broken Portuguese, I tried to share with them what I was doing. They attempted to correct my poor language skills. It was my favorite moment of the morning at Casa Sol.

I'll let Eden share a little about her day.

EDEN: I did some work spackling the walls. I was up on the ladder, and let me tell you working on ladders is not as easy as it looks. When I got home my feet hurt so much I wanted to scream because of my little friend called PAIN. At CASA SOL, I meet this cute little girl named Matricia,and at ALDEIA SOS I meet the cutest little puppy named Luna. While I was working I felt good seeing the kids smiles at Casa Sol.

So there it is, a brief up-date of our first day. I need to check in with the surfers and see how things went with the surf camp. I did see some of the kids dragging in as we were cleaning up. So I figure they had a great day. Will keep you up-dated as we progress toward the end of the week and towards greater exhaustion. I'm sure it will be well worth it, if this first day is any indicator.

Keep praying and be Blessed

Can you see my heart?

2007-07-22T13:42:00.001-07:00

We are in the last few days before Serve the City kicks off. Please pray with us and for us as we do the work of serving these two orphanages. We have a lot of people involved in this and are expecting some great things to grow out of STC.

We are doing well. I really appreciate your comments back. It sure keeps us feeling connected with the states and old friends. Eden is having a little home sickness right now.

Our community, Grace has been sharing our life stories over the Summer. It is wild to see how peoples life's are all sewn into the fabric of Gods story. It is also heart breaking to see the abuse, abandonment, and hurt that we have all suffered through our lives. If you doubt that we are in a battle, just listen to the stories of the people around you. We are all walking wounded in some way. What an amazing privilege to fight for the hearts of this wonderful group of people.

So life is beautiful...(if you haven't seen the movie A Beautiful Life, see it!) My wife and kids are beautiful, God is beautiful, and you are as well. Now I have the Mister Rogers theme music in my head. Won't you be my neighbor.

If we can be praying for you in any way let us know.

Blessings

As I sit hear...

2007-07-17T15:19:00.000-07:00

I'm listening to Charlie Dodrill and blogging in the dark. The cool of the night air is coming in through the sliding patio door. Somewhere down stairs I can hear the sound of chains as the cafe locks up their tables for the night. Kids and wife are tucked for the night. The dog's have been out.(plural dogs because were watching our friends dog Skitso. That's her name. She's very sweet.) I can't seem to go to bed before midnight anymore. So here I am thinking about life and wondering what to say.

We just had 2500 individual cereal boxes delivered to our garage the other day. The local Grocery store, Jumbo, is donating a bunch of food for the final get together. We're going to have a full blown surf camp. A couple has provided finances to cover the work being done at Casa Sol. People are starting to sign-up to serve. A local company is printing 80 t-shirts with the Serve the City logo and donating them. I am blown away. God is providing so much. It's crazy cool!

I wish that stupid street light outside would stop flashing on and off. The other day all the street lights on the street were on in the middle of the day. A few nights before there were none on during the night. I kind of feel like our street lights sometime. I'm shining like I'm supposed to, but maybe it's the wrong time or I'm blinking on and off. Ah well. This little light of mine I'm gonna let it shine. In the morning.

Blessings

PS Happy Birthday Dane. The picture is from the night we went to Lisboa and read my play. Praying for you all.

At the Twilights Last Gleaming

2007-07-03T04:43:00.000-07:00

We all get older, and I am no exception. This year is the 39th time I will celebrate the anniversary of my being here. I can think of only one other time I was out of country on my b-day. It was 1990 and I was in Kiev. There is a long story that involves the night before my 22nd birthday. (One of my favorite stories.) I'll save that for another time. This year will be the second time I celebrate out of country.

One of the things about celebrating my B-day is the fact that it happens the day after the Fourth of July. The day America celebrates it's independence. Fourth of July fireworks mean it's the eve of my Birthday. It's kind of like my own personal Christmas Eve for my birth. (Ooohh, that sounds weird. I am not comparing my birth to the Birth of Jesus.) Anyhow I have always felt like my birthday starts on the night of the Fourth of July. America throws a big fireworks celebration to kick it off.

Last week I was talking about how this would be one of the few years that I would not be seeing fireworks for my birthday. It was a somber realization. I think somehow I look forward to those fireworks more than anything else on my birthday. Don't get me wrong, go ahead and send money and gifts if you want, but the fireworks somehow symbolize my b-day and now they will not be there. It's funny, you don't realize how new cultures and environments can effect you, until you encounter those moments of loss. Fireworks is a loss for me.

But wait, this whole last week the "World Cup" for sailing was hosted here in our home town. It was a big deal. The place was packed. It was very important. So last night I had just settled down with a book, when there was a terrorist attack. Or at least that was the first thing that went through my head when I head the loud explosions. (We don't live to far from Scotland) I jumped up as the third or fourth explosion rang out. A fifth one. I bolted to the living room. And what to my wondering eyes should appear? The rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof to the night, that my God was still there. He loved me so much that he made sure that I received my birthday present. FIREWORKS!

As we stood there singing the National Anthem and watching some of the most beautiful fireworks I have ever seen, I felt as if it was okay. We are free! My life is good! And those fireworks were for my birthday. Even if they were two days early. Be Blessed!

Blue Grass and Ranch Dresing

2007-06-26T08:09:00.000-07:00

Sometime a little bit of home feels really good. Today is one of those days. P's up visiting Nina. (Girls lunch date.) So the kids and I made Pork Chops on the grill.
I had recieved a package from my mom and Ish. It was some music CD's. One of which was Blue Grass Gospel. I don't usally listen to Gospel Blue Grass, but today is was comforting. Reminded me of being over at my dad's house on Sunday afternoons.
While I was cooking the pork chops, Eden reminded me that we had ranch dressing packets that her Nana had brought from the states. So we sat eatting pork chops, and green salad with ranch dressing, while we listened to Blue Grass musicfor lunch. Noah said it reminded him of when his Texas Grandma would visit. It was great.
I wasn't expecting it, but it sure was a nice little trip home for our ears and taste buds. If you'd like to take a little trip here in your mind, grill your self some fresh fish (leave the head on) and look at a picture of the Atlantic ocean. We'll leave a light on for ya;)

Just the Facts

2007-06-24T03:15:00.000-07:00

I need to keep these things up-dated every other day or so because there is so much that happens in the course of a week that it become very hard not to write a novel when I blog. So here's a few high lights since I last wrote.
Maliki, Zac and Hill's little guy, had his second B-day last Sunday. I painted faces and the kids had a great time. Scott and Terri left for the states on Monday. We will miss them til they get home. The Uhler's returned home, from a family trip to Spain, before their kids go to Africa for the Summer. Eden and Noah went to the B-day party of Adian, a 9 year old boy they've met here. His dad and I sat and talk about Jesus and "spiritual"things the whole time. It was good. Yesterday we had a picnic in a park over looking Lisbon. There was lots of football playing (that's soccer for you Americans), and even more talking and making friends. Also KC, one of our interns that will be here for the Summer, arrived. Anything else...? No. I think that's the week in a nut shell.
P is working hard on her Serve the City project. It's really difficult to tell what it will look like in the end. We have lost some of the voluntaries we had and it's impossible to tell how may people will actually be involved from different churches and organizations here. Keep praying for this.
Our church service's are growing. With many new people visiting and a consistent showing from the normal people. It will be interesting to see what takes place over the Summer, as many people will be coming and going. My hope is that we are able to keep the momentum up so that when everyone returns in the Fall we can hit the ground running.
Well I think that covers the majority of the stuff. Might not be the most exciting post, but it's what's going on around here. Hope you all are well. We miss you and would love to pray for you specifically. If there is something we could be praying about please let us know. Blessings

It's all about the people

2007-06-15T02:10:00.001-07:00

I am the worst at remembering birthday's, anniversaries, etc. Every year my buddy Joel sends me a greeting in one form or another on my birthday. So you would think that I would remember his birthday after 17 years of birthday wishes from him, but alas I am a flake.

This year I remembered. There is something about being so far removed from all the familiar. It changes your perspective about things.

What is important in life? It's not my money, or success, or even my level of comfort. It is people. People like Joel who are there for you. Year after year. Even when you let them down. People who when you pick up the phone after not having talked for weeks, sometimes months, are there for you, just as if no time has passed at all.

The world is so big and yet growing smaller everyday. My community, my people, those who I call friends are spread around the globe and the more I understand what it is that I am doing here on earth, the more I value them. Only took me 38 years to get a clue. So...

Happy Birthday Joel. You stood by me when I was down and I will always stand with you. I pray that today you are blessed, beyond what you could hope for. You are a great man, a wonderful husband and father, and one of the best people a guy could ever hope to have as a friend. It is my privilege to be your friend. Wish we could be there celebrating your birthday today. Be Blessed. Spence

Sleep Overs & Ice Cream Wars

2007-06-11T02:38:00.000-07:00

As we keep leaning into missional living, we are blessed by how good God is to us. In the last three weeks we have had the opportunity to live in community for the majority of the time.
First our wonderful friend Maureen, who has lived in Italy with her family for the last 20 years came and stayed with us while she looked for an apartment. It was an awsome time visiting and sharing life with her.
Her whole clan will be moving here in August. They are great. They host a Christian rock festival in Italy every Summer called ROCK-ON-THE-ROCK. Triplet hooked-up with them a couple of years ago and they all really hit it off. Triplet will be touring with them this summer. It should be great. We're all praying for you Denny and Maureen.
After Maureens visit we had a couple days to our self before our friend Jochen and our new friend Julia, from Germany, came to visit and surf. Jochen was here with another young man, Miriam, back when we did our last 24/7 prayer room. They are passionate young men and women. Living their lives in Germany for the glory of Jesus.
Jochen and Julia were here until this Sunday and really loved on our Kids and the dog. One of our high lights was the Ice Cream War. Julia and Jochen had blessed us by making a wonderful dinner and afterward I ran up to the gas station to buy Ben and Jerrys ice cream. (A real treat.) When i brought home the four different flavors we all grabbed spoons and dug in.
From that point it became a free-for-all. Spoons were flying, and people laughing. Noah was the extreme ice cream eater and it became obvious that if anyone was going to get any Chocolate Chunk we were going to have to play keep away with Noah. It was a great time. Everyone was sticky and full.
We really enjoyed our time with our German friends and were sad to see them leave. It is a blessing to share our space with new and old friends. Maybe you could come stay for awhile. Be Blessed.

At the speed of light

2007-06-04T04:46:00.001-07:00

Wow! Where has the year gone? Here it is, June already. That means that we have been here almost 9 months. I didn't expect it to be so crazy, nor so wonderful. Summer is trying to break through, but we are still having many cool weather days. Today is very warm though. Saturday the family went into Lisboa, with the Klebber family, to the first annual Cherry Festival. A good time was had by all, except for when Eden got a monster heat headache.

Noah has just received his summer mohawk. The traditional summer hair cut of Noah. I like it better than the summer buzz cut I would get as a kid. Plus it really looks good on him.

We talked with the International Christian School in Cascais about registering the kids for next year. More expensive than public school, but allot cheaper than all the other private school options. Plus a good school as well.

P is cranking along with Serve the City and has started running again. She is happier with the warmer weather coming. This longer Winter is not her first choice.

Other than that life is about staying on top of the little things. As we do what we do.