San Diego and "Miles" Later

So this is another post that is behind the times... we are actually in Santa Cruz at the moment in a Seattle's Best Coffee shop catching up.  So back to San Diego.  We could not get a hold of the folks we had planned to stay with in that sunny city the Wednesday we got in so as my wife and I sat in a Borders bookstore in La Mesa I called an old college bud named Andrew Griffen.  It so happened that he lived 5 minutes away from where we were and was preparing a message for a mid week Bible Study at his church.  We met him and he treated us to dinner at a taco shop (the California burrito is awesome!) and then went to the Wednesday night service with him.  We heard a wonderful class on living a life that is joyful despite circumstances.  We hope that this message will catch on at his church and others because Christianity wasn't ever meant to be boring.  After class we mentioned we were on the road and needed a place to stay and a few girls willingly opened their homes to us.  We ended up staying the night with Ema who's fiance was out of town because he was deployed to Korea with the military.  Thanks Andrew and Ema both for your hospitality!  The next morning we got up and visited the famous San Diego Zoo and discovered that even the animals detested the sweltering heat we experienced that day (at least most of the big critters were nowhere to be seen!)  At this point we had made contact with the original person we had planned on visiting with in San Diego.  She went by Winnie and she is the grandmother of one of our Iraqw teammates, Deborah Strasser.  She was so gracious to us, taking us out to Olive Garden for dinner and opening up a beautiful room to us that contained a cozy king-size bed.  After staying one night with Winnie and her eldest daughter, Caren, Kristen and I decided to hit the beach the next morning.  The weather was the exact opposite of what we had experienced at the zoo.  The wind blew so hard that it was extremely difficult for us to keep from freezing as we attempted to relax and read.  Neither of us got in the water that day but we did head up the sidewalk for some frozen yogurt where we ran into some other disciples of Jesus who encouraged us very much.  When we got back to the beach I overheard a few guys sitting behind us talking about using drugs on girls at parties so that they might sleep with them.  These are one of those moments when you feel like saying something but not in the most compassionate way.  I turned around and told them how lame it was that they would try to get girls that way.  I know that maybe I could have started by getting to know them and share Jesus or something but I just felt like maybe these guys who already knew in their own head that it was lame just needed another guy to straight up tell them how lame it was.  Anyways, if you have suggestions about how I should go about it if I ever have another chance let me know.  I know at times Jesus spoke compassionately and unbiasedly and at others he spoke challenging conviction into people's lives.  So after our cold beach day we returned to Winnie's for Lasagna and salad and a nice evening of sharing life's stories with her.  The next morning, after a long rest and a scurry to pack up all of our belongings once more, Winnie took us on a drive up to Mt. Helix.  Actually we drove separately so that after walking around the top we could head on to Los Angeles.  Mt. Helix gave us a beautiful panoramic view on all sides of the San Diego valley area.  There was a tall white cross at the pinnacle which sat above an amphitheater which accommodates community events and concerts as well as Easter services yearly.  Here we took pictures with Winnie and parted ways with her and Caren.  We were so warmed to be in their company.  Seeing that it was a beautiful, sunny morning, Kristen and I decided to sit in the amphitheater and read out of the gospel of Matthew.  This transitioned us into a truly amazing Christ experience.  After we finished a few chapters we got up and while walking to our car ran into Miles Brannan.  He walked up with his own Bible and a copy of a devotional book by Oswald Chambers.  He asked us what we had been reading and where we were from.  We told him our story and almost immediately he invited us to lunch at his home with his wife and son.  Kristen and I left Mt. Helix beaming, excited about this encounter in the Spirit.  We met Miles and his wife Raina at an apartment complex where they happened to be the tenants.  We also watched as their two year old, Daniel, ran around like a wild beast : ) as he pulled down blinds and stuck his hand in the toilet.  he was definitely a boy.  Raina prepared a traditional Iraqi breakfast for us as her background was Greek Orthodox and she had formerly lived in Iraq.  It was entirely delicious and consisted of pita, olives, corned beef, sausages, cheeses, and  chick peas (they may have been beans).  The entire time we were there we became very acquainted with this beautiful family and it felt as if we were long lost brothers and sisters (spiritually we are).  Miles is a commercial pilot who recently discovered that he is color blind, which is an amazing feat considering that this disability keeps others from ever being able to fly.  He has developed other ways of discerning certain patterns which do not require interpreting colors.  Still, he desires complete healing so that he may be allowed to continue deeper training and so that he may fly at night.  Raina is currently studying English so that she may teach and she is already fluent in Arabic, Syriac and Aramaic.  Knowing that Kristen and I were headed to Los Angeles that same day, Miles helped us find campsites in the Simi Valley area and even secretly handed me gas money.  This was a couple that lived a open-handed lifestyle.  They have even since called us to see how we are doing and eagerly desire to reunite with us someday in the future.  If you know our God, thank him on our behalf, for the many hospitable people he has put in our path.  If you do not know Him yet, there really are people out their who are pickled in His love and love to love on others through opening their doors and hearts.  Just because the religious people you have known all your life talk about Jesus but don't live this sort of love out, don't let their lukewarm mush discourage you from finding true faith.  Hopefully we will catch up soon and be telling you all about Los Angeles, Sequoia National Park and Santa Cruz!

--Taylor

Grand Canyon

We apologize for our constant "behindness" in this blog.  This post is about our experience at the Grand Canyon.  I also apologize that my posts are not as poetic and descriptive as Taylor's.  I'm a more matter-of-fact, lets get to the point kind of writer.  But I enjoy reading his posts much more than my own!  Back to the Grand Canyon, we originally had planned to hike down to the bottom, camp there for two nights, and then hike back up.  However, at the last minute, we decided we shouldn't do it.  We were just unsure if we were in enough shape to do it, or whether it would be smart with the heat and everything.  I'm actually glad we did not do it.  While hiking in Zion, I carried a Camelback on my back full of a gallon of water as well as my lunch.  The weight on my back while hiking tough hills was enough to wear me out every hill we went up.  We had to continually stop so I could catch my breath.  I started thinking about what it would be like to hike down with a much heavier pack that is holding clothes, food, a sleeping bag, AND water.  Plus add heat and miles of hiking.  Overall, we just decided it wouldn't be the best idea.  Instead, we did a day hike down the canyon for awhile and then back up.  It was beautiful, fun, and the perfect amount of time.  I loved the Canyon.  It's so nice to finally say I've seen it!  While we were there, we also went to a short IMAX movie about the Canyon.  Enjoy the pictures!

Out of the Desert into Canaan

"On Zion's glorious summit stood, a numerous host redeemed by blood," were words that echoed between the mountain tops as Kristen and I attempted the five mile, three hour hike to the top of Angel's Landing, in Zion National Park, Utah.  This park has rightfully earned its name, an oasis in the middle of the desert, lush with greenery and cliffs painted with a beautiful multi-layered record of the past.  For Kristen and I, camping in this park for two nights and hiking for two days was paradise compared to the sweltering heat we had previously experienced in Phoenix.  When we got in the evening of our first night we were required to stay in a group campsite with some other travelers because all of the single campsites were booked.  When this kind of thing occurs we have learned to put up our God antennas and assume he has someone in mind that could make use of the knowledge of Jesus Christ.  It so happened that we were placed with three British guys who grew up together in Oxford and were making a quick road trip through the U.S. to celebrate graduating from university.  They had stopped in this beautiful Eden on the way to Las Vegas.  As we shared seating area and watched as they built a fire out of our cooking embers we began to learn about what each of them planned to do with their lives.  One was a history major, desiring to use that to change his part of the world.  Another desired to design homes with his talents as a architect.  The third specialized in Greco-Roman history.  His area of study brought about thoughts of an ancient Jewish peasant named Jesus, who Kristen and I explained to them was our Lord.  Understanding where these guys of our generation were coming from (caring deeply about the injustices of the modern world), we explained to them how we wanted to share His love in Africa, not as colonialists attempting to undergo a takeover of resources but as ambassadors of another kingdom, one that affirmed the positive traits of the tribal group we were reaching out to, while at the same time offering forgiveness of and freedom from sins that had destroyed their connection with the life giving God.  We explained how the Gospel of Christ was the answer to peace amongst tribal groups who fought over each of their "god-given" rights to all the cattle in the world.  Though I in some ways wish we had challenged them to know the Lord and give their lives and plans up to Him I hope they were able to see the impact His love has to bring justice to the poor and oppressed of this world while still affirming the need for eternal salvation and not just to line the pockets of westerners, .  Our honest conversation gave Kristen and I the opportunity to pray over them in person, that they may come to know the love of Christ more fully, that they may be drawn nearer to Him and that they might have a fun time on the rest of their trip.  This gave us the opportunity to plant seeds in their hearts without making assumptions about their plans for Vegas, and without denying our allegiance to Christ.  The next day Kristen and I took a beautiful hike up to Angel's Landing.  Huffing and puffing up the mountain was soon rewarded by breath-taking views of the valley below.  God is beyond grand.  His creation is spectacular.  The next day the emerald pool hike refreshed us as we felt breezes come off the cliff faces as water trickled down their slippery walls in to deep green eyes below.  God is so good and even if we had said nothing to these guys we are grateful that even the creation displays His majesty to those who are unsure of his love for them.

-- Taylor

Phoenix, Arizona

For those of you reading our blog, make sure you always check for more than one post at a time.  What I mean by this is that this post is not the only new one posted.  We usually do several at a time.  We just didn't want you to miss anything!  This post will be short, but I wanted to write a little about our time here in the Phoenix area.  Let me just say- its as HOT as it claims to be!!  For the first night here, we camped in the Sonoran Desert.  This was a very unique experience.  First of all, it was a real desert complete with cacti (yes, I know the correct plural of this word and am proud of that!) and nothing but sand and heat.  We stayed at a campground there, but there was hardly a soul around us since it was so hot (smart people probably camp there in the fall!).  We felt like we had the desert to ourselves.  I admit, I was at first scared because I felt like we were all alone out there and our little tent would not be able to protect us from desert creatures.  However, once we got in the tent at night (it was even hot at night) and looked up, all I could see were millions of stars and it was very calming.  We slept well and the next morning drove into the city to see Daniel and Erin Lee (DLee from Harding, some of you might recall him!).  They were very hospitable and let us stay with them for two days, eat their food, and sleep on their fold out couch.  They also took us to a great restaurant in downtown Pheonix for dinner, which was lots of fun.  Most of our time there was spent relaxing indoors (too hot!) and we were once again refreshed by this.  Thanks to Daniel and Erin for their hospitality! 
(oh and P.S.- our blogs are never up to date because we don't have internet very often.  When you are reading them, they are usually not currently where we are.  For example, even though this post is about Phoenix, I am writing this from Joshua Tree National Park in California!)

-Kristen

Albuquerque, New Mexico

While in Albuquerque, we were blessed to stay with Komaka and Pat, a couple who are long term friends with Jim and Melissa Nesbit (for those of you who know them from Harding). Jim and Melissa told us we should stay with them when we visited Albuquerque and they were right! Komaka and Pat displayed the aroma of Christ to us from the moment we arrived until we left. Most of our time there was spent relaxing and getting refreshed (traveling can really wear you out!). They worked during the day, so we had their home to ourselves which was really nice. In the evenings we had wonderful conversations over dinner, all about Jesus and what it means to follow Christ. Komaka and Pat taught us a lot about the cost of following Jesus- denying yourself, taking up your cross daily, and following Him. They love the Lord so much! Our time there was definately needed. On our way out of town, they distributed the love of Jesus even more by filling up our gas tank and giving us $100.00 for the road! This is not to brag on them at all, as I know they do not want the glory, but I share this so that praise can be given to God for His provision through His people! He confirmed in us so much that He will take care of us wherever we go. Let that be an encouragement to those of you reading this- God will ALWAYS provide, sometimes in the most mysterious ways!




-Kristen

Spiritual “Camps” and Close Encounters of the Third Kind

This post is coming to our blog much later than anticipated, but I still feel that its content is of benefit to anyone willing to read. While my wife and I spent time in Roswell, New Mexico contemplating the possibility of life on other planets, we met one man who was convinced (though not sure really what of) that something occurred in that infamous town of conspiracy. His name was John Weidemann, a single father who had moved from Oklahoma to New Mexico in order to seek an income as a heart sonogram technician. He happened to be living at the trailer park we decided to camp in for the evening. As we were setting up at our site he came over to introduce himself and find out what brought us into town. We explained to him about our journey, how we were off on an adventure to reignite our marriage and to share Jesus. After a while of conversing, he shared with us how he was currently a follower of Jesus as well and that he was in a time of serious questioning that had led him to doubt some of the major doctrinal statements he had picked up through his 7th Day Adventist roots. In this area Kristen and I could relate with him. His spiritual forefathers had set up “camp”, as Bob Hughey would put it, around a few specific doctrines, that at one point in the past may have brought life but now only deadened that movement because of its unwillingness to balance these positive practices out with other truths. The Adventists had warmed their hands and feet around the flames of sabbath rest and a strict health practices to name a few. The Churches of Christ (our heritage if you didn't know by now) has been likewise encamped around the doctrines of baptismal regeneration, a capella singing and cessationism. By making this point I am not wishing to downplay the importance of some of these beliefs but attempting to show that John's experience of being a part of a dead institutional church setting, set up around specific, unique earmarks of faith was not much different than ours. In fact most denominations tend to wind up in the same mess. The Baptists get hung up on eternal security and end times prophecy. Pentecostals emphasis the gifts of the Spirit, especially tongues. Charismatics tend to focus on high-energy worship and ecstatic manifestations of the Spirit. Calvinists are caught up in predestination and grace. Anabaptists emphasize peacemaking and justice. As the Lord has been restoring truths to His church, many groups, which at one time were thriving movements, have been deadened by their inability to continue following Jesus into new truths, while still retaining old ones. Being a part of one of these “camps” can be very appealing because at one point in time the Holy Spirit perhaps was stoking each and every one of these fires. The deception point, however came for each of these groups when followers of Jesus quit fully following and obeying Him and got comfortable just adhering to a few man-made rules and doctrines because it was either a more comfortable route or merely because they did not know that the focus was to be on the Giver of truth, not the specific truths themselves. So getting back to John, we found ourselves able to easily relate. He must of encouraged us in simply following Jesus and doing unto others as we would have them do unto us more than we encouraged him, because we came away from that RV park extremely refreshed. John was their to serve us in to so many ways, making sure we had extension cords for our laptops and even inviting us out to breakfast the next morning. Though we were unable to agree on every point of belief (no one will ever be able to this side of eternity) we were able to treat each other with Christ-likeness and practice His love as we eagerly sought to learn more about following our Lord. We each saw the shortcomings of our specific brotherhoods, but instead of letting that put us in a sour mood we decided to use our discussion as a catalyst for a greater embrace of the universal body of Christ which is not defined by doctrinal statements but by following Jesus and loving one another after the manner of Christ.

Are you camped around certain doctrines, thinking they hold the keys of life, or are you following the life-giving Jesus? Are you searching, for law-based righteousness, or are you righteous simply because Jesus' Spirit lives in you? Has your folding porch chair and cozy wool socks become to comfortable as ashes and coals slowly fade away and the embers of your campfire die out for lack of air? Then I would suggest you rethink your comfortable position. For some this might mean sticking it out in your denominational setting and stoking the embers up into a full on Holy Spirit blaze that others who have been deadened by legalism might come alive in Christ. For others, it might be that you only find life by leaving behind the institutions of your youth to find a deeper and more authentic way of following Jesus through forming house groups or new monastic communities with like-minded friends. Either way there is no room for complacency when it comes to following Jesus. There is a narrow road and few who truly find it. It is okay to question your own assumptions of the faith system you have grown up in. John's questions freed him up to follow Christ more authentically and to set aside some man-made yokes. Mine and Kristen's have as well. Actually, questioning may be a sign of someone truly seeking to not be complacent but to actually make sense of what it means to truly love God and love people in the context you live in. All in all my point is don't become too comfortable camping out around your set of beliefs and get up and make a sincere effort to follow Jesus into all truth. It may bring you under scrutiny and persecution by your own brotherhood or even your immediate family, but remember following Jesus comes at a cost, a cost that is truly worth it.

Roswell, New Mexico

Leaving Carlsbad, we drove to Roswell, New Mexico. The only reason we went there was, of course, aliens and UFOs! We had to see what this was all about. And they were definitely everywhere. Even the Walmart had a UFO on it. It was a bit hokey, but there was a charm to it. We camped that night in an RV park God led us to. It was definitely his provision, because we had no idea where we were going to sleep that night. The woman who worked there was so sweet, and allowed us to set up our tent and make ourselves at home. The facilities there were nice and clean and there was even a game room with a couch and T.V. We heated up leftovers and then spent the evening doing our own things. That night, I had trouble sleeping because of bugs that were in our tent. It’s almost impossible for some not to get in when you climb in and out. My plan was for us to get in the tent as quickly as possible, zip it up, then turn on our lantern and attract all bugs. Once they were landing all over the lantern, Taylor could kill them for me. And he patiently did- each and EVERY bug. However, when we laid down to sleep, I could still hear a couple of them buzzing and I couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that they might land on me. I was glad when morning came. We then went to the UFO museum and got to hear the story of what happened that "fateful" day in Roswell. It was fun to hear the history and listen to people’s comments as they walked through (some were true skeptics, some faithful believers).  In fact, the woman at the front desk checking us in randomly said, "Yeah, I wasn't a believer until I started working here."  For a second, I got really excited because she said she was a Believer.  And then I realized she was talking about the aliens and not about God!  Oh well, I pray she becomes a true Believer one day as well (or who knows, maybe she already is?).  I'll end with a quote from a chat I had with my sister on the internet while in Roswell:
Kristen: "I think I just spotted an alien!"
Caitlin: "Nope, its just Taylor."

-Kristen