Journal - Saying "Bye" to Alicia

7 a.m., Monday.

So I’m sitting here in Oregon, on my way home from dropping off our daughter Alicia in California. She is enrolled in a program called Ignite at Life Pacific College. I really believe she is going to thrive in this missions and ministry focused program. First thing at the campus we met tons of our friends and colleagues: My old youth pastor (Grant Esborg) was dropping off his son, chatted with former interns from our church, visited with the President of the college (Robert Flores), the Director of Ignite (Mike Larkin) and one of our former pastors and the former President of Life (Dan Stewart).

Saying goodbye to her was more surreal/strange/awkward then it was sad. We just forced ourselves to say a quick goodbye and to walk away. That was hard but I tried to keep in mind all the positive aspects of what was going on. She is following God’s plan for her life! The next season for her has great potential! So many people told me we would all be balling our eyes out but that’s not what happened. It is odd having three instead of four in our car. It is empty and our house will be emptier. Last night we were texting and couldn’t get a hold of her and I commented: “She doesn’t need us, we need her.” This is true when it comes to our “felt need”. From now on whenever we are with her it will probably be for a “visit”.

I am actually really excited for her. I think she’ll thrive there. She is already having a great time. Today is her first day of class.

One of her professors there dedicated her weeks after she was born (Dan Stewart) and this reminds me of what we’re doing now: We have truly given her back to the Lord and she is our gift to the world. This dedication of our child to the Lord seems like the one that really counts.

(My cell phone just rang – it was her…getting ready for her first day of class and looking for the spiral bound notebooks that are still in our car. Oh well It was nice that she called).

Waiting for a Miracle?

Have you ever struggled with these questions:
Can I expect miracles or not?
If I expect a miracle and it doesn't happen, how can I not be disappointed? Is it God's fault? Is it my fault?
Is it self-centered or presumptuous to ask God for miracles?

This weekend I will be preaching a message out of the life of Jesus entitled, "Experiencing the Miraculous" from Luke 5:18-26. As we look at this story together, I believe God will help us answer these and other important questions. At the conclusion of the service we will be praying for those who need healing, as well as for those who need any other type of miraculous intervention. If you know anyone who needs a miracle, bring them along with you this weekend

PowerPoint is HERE.

Audio is HERE.

Miracle Stories - Do you have any?

This weekend I am speaking on Jesus and miracles. We will have a time of ministry at the end of the service.

If you have a miracle story, would you share it?
Here are some that have already come my way through Facebook:

I haven't time to type this am. my friend w pancreatic cancer......completely healed for a time and in that cancer free time much other more crucial healing happened: eternal relationship issues that were a cancer of the heart for years. can tell you more if you want.

My eyes were healed at highschool camp when I was a senior. I was praying for someone else and God decided that he wanted to heal me too. I had some sort of glasses or contacts since I was 1 until about 18 years old. Now I wear nothing.

3 years of infertility and a dr. who said I'd never have kids. Showed him.
P.S. and Zac, Jeremy and Zoe all had emergency miracles at birth...almost lost Zac, almost lost me (with Jeremy) and Zoe tried to be born 20 weeks early.

I have one about a high school student healed last year of severe ADHD at camp. His Mom wrote us a email a month after camp telling us that he had not taken any meds for it and had no psychotic episodes since. She said he is a different kid.

Using a gear driven skill saw it jumped and hit my thigh -- sliced my jeans but only a scratch on my leg. 2. while salvage diving I ran out of air in the hold of a ship -- word of wisdom provided an escape rope. 3. loosing power in ultralite I crashed on a pile of branches which saved my life -- scratched ear. How big of list of God's intervention in my life would you like?

Pray for Fernanda, her friends and her future family

Urugent Prayer Request:
Calvo’s: Request prayer for Fernanda and the other orphans awaiting adopting in Guatamala. Their orphanage has been raided by local government officials who are holding the children hostage and posing the threat of nullifying the work that 15 families have nearly completed in order to finalize the adoption of these children (including Fernanda). This political maneuver could result in these children being sent away to unknown homes/orphanages. Pray for intervention on behalf of these kids! They ask that we pray that the U.S. State Dept. get involved if necessary.

Inspired Bicycles - Danny MacAskill April 2009

This is just too insane not to share.

Eastside Presents: Some Fatherly Advice - FULL VERSION

We finally have the full version. There this with any new parents that you know.