My friends are laying it all on the line!

Just got a letter from good friends. All I can say is wow.

Hi there…

So here’s the deal… “We’re done!” We can no longer sit in our safe, secure suburban life and watch the world from our armchair. We can’t sit idly by while an entire African generation is wiped out due to AIDS, leaving an orphan epidemic. Neither can we sit by while another American generation becomes video game zombies with zero passion about anything worthwhile, amazed that the world is not just about “them.”

When Jesus saw James and John fishing, He walked by and said “Follow Me”… and something in James and John knew that this man was worth following. Jesus didn’t say that he would make it easy, he didn’t promise a 401K, he just said “Follow Me.” So that is what we are going to do. We are going to go, and do whatever He tells us. With three children to raise and support, this is not just a whim. This is a commitment to become who God made all of us to be. We are excited to show our kids what the kingdom of God is all about…righteousness, peace, joy, power...We are even more excited to show them that spending another Saturday in a mall is not what life is all about.

God has called us to work with G42, an organization whose purpose is to raise up a generation of radical Christ-followers. Our desire is to live in a community of believers, of radicals, who are unashamed of the Message and who are dedicated to train an army of compassionate, loving, young adults to live as Jesus Christ—to love first, to care for the orphan and widow, and to proclaim His message of grace and power.

The ministries of G42 are currently The World Race, Nsoko Children’s Villages, and Leadership Training Centers. The World Race is a year-long missions trip that combines elements of adventure, community, and kingdom—a microcosm of what we’re about. The Nsoko Children’s Villages are self-sustaining villages, housing up 8-10 orphans each that provide vital necessities for children who have been unwilling victims of the AIDS virus that is running rampant through Africa. The Leadership Training Centers around the world will equip and disciple a generation of Christian businessmen, civic leaders, and pastors.

I hope you can see why we’re passionate, why we believe so much is at stake, why we feel such urgency. And though God has called us to this ministry, we can't do it without a lot of people behind us. Obviously we need prayer…to open doors that need to be opened, and to close others. Miracles, supernatural happenings... can and will happen, we are sure of it. We also need your financial support--food and shelter are good things! You know us and our hearts—you can trust us to be good stewards of your money and prayers—we won’t squander either of them. We will be based out of Europe and initially will need your help to be self-sufficient for the necessities of life.

We will send more updates soon, so you can know what we are doing and how the work is progressing. Please think about supporting us. We’d love to hear from you, so please reply.

Read more in Dave's blog.

Life in a garbage dump - what if it was you?

A blog entry really hit me hard today. I don't know how to repost a whole blog entry but check it out here.

Do I open my home to this little guy

After Lucky ran away, I said no more dogs. I was mad that he was always outside. Some good friends came through and had their two dogs with them. One was a German shepherd and Judy was wanting one for about a day or so. Which got me all thinking about getting another dog - I never learn. However, I don't want a dog that big!! I said too bad they don't have mini-Shepherds.

Well then I see this little guy on Craig's List.

Rocko needs a new home!!!

Rocko is a seven month old pup!!!He weighs about twenty five pounds and thats as big as he will get!!i just had a baby, and im unable to show him the attention he is wanting...he is house trained, kennel trained and good with kids, dogs and cats..He would like to have a fenced in yard and maybe another dog to play with but not a must...there will be a very small re-homing fee to insure he goes to a loving home !!e-mail me if interested and i will send more pics then!!!

Well I sent an e-mail and I am assured he won't get bigger - a mini Shepherd see!!! He is the best dog ever but yet someone is giving him away. Hmmm. He even said there are many people wanting to look at him - yet DAYS LATER he is still available. IT'S A SIGN. The auditor in me is skeptical but the ADD dude is saying please let me get him. I will love him, walk him, neuter him, and then a day or two later fill up his water bowl, scoop poop, and wonder why I ever got him. So should I? Immediate gratification or do I use wisdom?

Oh faithful readers - okay reader - help a brother out. Wait before you give me advise don't forget the spiritual aspect of having this dog. Yes, there is a spiritual benefit. I will be having middle school kids at my house twice a month for discipleship. And I may be boring, but they will love this dog. Right!?! Then they will come and draw closer to God. Plus by the time Spring rolls around I could give him away as a prize for best attender. Or Winter. Depends how long he peaks my interest.

Have you seen the SNL, Mile Myers skit where he is chained to the monkey bars - that is me and Judy is trying her best to restrain me. She has caved to at least looking at him tonight! Oh yeah. She is even saying we would have to name him Wolfie if we do. C'mon, make daddy happy.

Separated but Not Forgotten

This blog post by Seth Barnes made me think of how cool it is when friends / family reunite. It amazes me how you can have minimal contact, be separated for months or even years, yet when reunited it feels so good (okay could not resist the cheese). Enjoy but don't let the little ones see this!

In 1969, two friends, John Rendall and Ace Berg, purchased a lion. At the time, Christian the lion was a 35-pound cub. He had been born in a zoo. The friends raised Christian in their London home. All three hung out in a friend’s furniture shop on the weekends.
Within a year, Christian had grown to 185 lbs. Rendall and Berg realized they couldn’t keep him much longer. But they didn’t know what to do with him. A chance encounter changed that. Two actors from the film Born Free walked into the furniture store.

The actors recommended a conservationist, George Adamson, living in Kenya. Christian was soon in Africa. There he was rehabilitated and released into the wild.

In 1974, Rendall and Berg decided to visit Christian one last time. He was now a wild animal. Adamson told them it was doubtful that Christian could be found. No one had seen him in nine months.

The two flew to Kenya, anyway. On the day they landed, Christian appeared outside Adamson’s camp. Somehow, he knew. He waited outside the camp until Rendall and Berg arrived.

This video was taken during their reunion with Christian. What a story! What a video!