The Hike...


On Saturday the 21st, some of the students from Innermission Campus Ministry and I participated in the 6 mile Winter Hike hosted by Hocking Hills State Park, as mentioned in my previous post.

The hike started at Old Man’s Cave – wound through the hills to Cedar Falls, (where we were served bean soup, corn bread and hot chocolate) then continued through the hills to Ash Cave. We had a great time and the views were spectacular – if you like walking along the edge of 300 – 400 foot vertical drops, seeing huge trees, and great waterfalls that is.

I made a few interesting observations about the hike that I would like to share…

1. There were lots of hikers, but not all of them enjoyed the hike.
2. There were lots of hikers, but not all were properly prepared for the hike.
3. Some of the hikers finished the hike only because of leaning on others for help and encouragement, and some children old enough to hike – needed to be carried.
4. I mentioned that the views were beautiful, but not all of them… sometimes the trail was really muddy, steep, dangerous, and at times it was hard to know just how close to the end we were.
5. Some hikers hiked alone.
6. I noticed several hiking the wrong way.
7. Some turned back.
8. When we finished the hike and loaded into our vehicles, most of those traveling with me sighed when they were seated in my truck and said they were glad it was over because they needed to rest – then they fell asleep – at least until we stopped at Pizza Hut.
9. After a short nap and pizza, everyone in my group was in total agreement – the hike was worth taking.

I think there are similar observations when we consider our walk through this life as Christians…

1. All who have given their life to God are hikers, but not all of us enjoy the hike.
2. All who have given their life to God are hikers, but not all of us have allowed Him to properly prepare us for the hike.
3. All who finish this hike will do so having always leaned on God -- and others -- for help and encouragement, and at times we will be carried by Him and them.
4. The views of this hiking trip are breathtakingly beautiful… but not all of them. Sometimes the trail is really hard, muddy, steep, dangerous, and no one knows just how close to the end of the trail we are.
5. Because of these and many other reasons – some will become discouraged and turn back.
6. When given an easier option, some hikers will choose the easier trail – and go the wrong way.
7. Some hikers will try to go it alone… and that’s just not possible.
8. All who finish this hike will be blessed eternally with sweet rest and a feast at the table of the Father.
9. When this hike is finished, we will all agree – the hike was worth taking.

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Jude 24-25

Keep Hiking!! Jamie

Catching Up...

I apologize to those of you who may have been spending precious time clicking over here the last few days, only to find that I haven’t posted in a week. (Especially if you use dial-up) My schedule has been really full – But it’s also been really blessed.

A Few Highlights…

Friday the 20th
I blocked a few hours off for a college student who needed to spend a little time together. He and I walked and talked about important things while we swung at a little white ball with an odd looking stick thing, I call it therapy if you know what I mean… Friday night I had the honor of taking my beautiful wife Kristin on a date to Tumbleweed, one of our favorite restaurants. We had a great time together and the food was great as well. Kendall played with Abbie and Ellie while we were out, thanks to Jodi and Aaron.

Saturday the 21st…
I took students from Innermission to Hocking Hills for their annual Winter Hike. The hike is six miles and takes place in some beautiful and dangerous scenery. During the hike you experience beautiful Cedar Falls waterfall, jagged cliffs, 300-400 foot drops along the paths, Old Man’s Cave and Ash Cave. And of course I can’t forget God’s crown creation – people! There were approximately 5,600 hikers who participated last year, not sure the number of participants this year. Oh yeah – they also served bean soup and corn bread at the half way point -- we had a great time!

Sunday the 22nd
Kristin, Kendall and I visited mom, she is in a rehab facility in the Four Winds Nursing Home. She is doing remarkably well and her spirits are up as always. Thanks for all your prayers on her behalf, I know God heard – He always does. Please continue to remember mom when you spend time with Him.
After our visit we returned home and I watched the Pittsburgh Steelers win their AFC Championship Game with the Denver Broncos. Now on to the Super Bowl! Don’t forget to support your favorite football team -- the Steelers -- in the Super Bowl.

Monday the 23rd
Had a blessed day at Innermission and went to the viewing of Edna Gampp. All of you who know her, know that she is a neat godly lady.

Tuesday the 24th
I was honored and blessed to take part in Edna’s Funeral. The day was beautiful, her family and friends paid due respect and love to a wonderful child of God now blessed with her reward. After the Funeral meal I went to Innermission to spend the rest of the day with the college students.
We also had the teens at Innermission at 6:30pm for their weekly devo... the Lord blessed us with an encouraging Bible study together, and the evening was a blast.

Wednesday the 25th (today)
Today has been uneventful but busy, and really good. Aside from being abused by Jennifer for not posting lately – sorry Jennifer – but I couldn’t help myself. Anyway, I’m looking forward to our mid-week Bible Study tonight at Sunshine. It’s always a blessing to spend time with God’s family.

Well that’s pretty much it for my last 4 or 5 days. I may have left out a few details – but aside from all the great things Kristin, Kendall and I spend time doing – I covered most of it. Thanks for stopping in and reading, I’ll try to keep up a little better from now on… I said “try”. You’re in my prayers…

Hope...

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD... Jeremiah 29:11-14a

Encouraging words from a loving God, to a distracted and wayward people -- still giving peace and hope to us today.

God is good, and my life has always been blessed and hope filled for His presence in it... Jamie

Totally Dependant...

For some time now Kendall has been going to Joan’s for day care. Kristin teaches a one hour aerobics class twice a week -- and Kendall goes to Joan’s during those times.
From the beginning Kristin and I have taken turns taking her there, and I admit it has been pretty hard for me to drop her off, spend a few minutes and then leave. Every time I would start to leave – Kendall would say “but daddy, would you stay and play with me? Or daddy, I want to go with you,” and big tears would fill her eyes. (That’s a heartbreaker)
So, for me to be able to leave without her getting upset, we had to distract her. Joan says Kendall has me wrapped around her little finger, I say she’s right. (But isn’t that how dads are supposed to be with their daughters?)
Here’s the problem…
Lately when I take her to Joan’s -- we hang out a few minutes -- and then she starts playing with the other children. I usually hang around a little longer, and then say “bye Kendall – daddy loves you! She says I love you too daddy! And then I leave. And as I drive away I think about how good it is for her to be comfortable staying there without mommy or daddy with her. I thank God that a godly woman like Joan is in Kendall’s life… and then I pout a little as I think about how easy it was for me to leave, she didn’t even put up a little fight. Ultimately I know that as Kendall grows – she will become less dependant on us to look out for, and take care of her -- but I don’t have to like it. I love the thought of my little girl being mature and strong, but I’m not so crazy about her getting there without mommy and daddy any time soon – after all – she’s my little girl.

Isn’t it interesting that things are just the opposite when it comes to our relationship with God? With our children, we are called to help them develop independence, at lease to a large degree. But when it comes to our relationship with God – he calls us to a life of total dependence on him. Instead of growing up and maturing to the point that we can make it on our own – as it is with children and their parents -- God tells us that growing up and maturing as a Christian – is to be totally dependant on him, to look to him in everything, and for everything. Can you imagine how blessed our lives would be if we allowed ourselves to become totally dependent on him?!
The truth is… we already are.


I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Phil. 4:13
…apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

Another Great Day!!!

Once again the Lord has blessed us with another great day at Innermission. Several students have visited to talk, do homework, encourage someone, play ping-pong, foosball, pool, air hockey, or just hang out and watch christian videos. The students are great and we have been blessed to have a wonderful godly atmosphere. Please continue to pray for this ministry, it's a blessing to all of us.

My mom has been transfered to Grant Hospital in Columbus again. They've been running tests on the blood clot in her heart trying to determine what to do with it. Her sister's (my aunt) funeral is tomorrow at 11:00am. That has been weighing on her a little... thank you for continuing to remember mom when you spend time with the Father.


This past Sunday as I said last post, I had the opportunity to watch the Steelers and Bengals play in Cincinnati. The Steelers won -- you gotta love those Steelers -- and it was great to be there to watch it live-- especially with the great friends I was with. (I think I can convert them to become Steeler fans)

Anyway -- I just thought I would post a few pictures for your enjoymnent...

Thank you for visiting my blog, and for your prayers on behalf of my family, and Church family; the Sunshine Church of Christ and the ministries the Lord has us involved in. Oh yeah -- and keep cheering for those Pittsburgh Steelers!!!!!!!!

The Gift of Faith!

As I write this I’m sitting with mom and my brother in her hospital room -- she is resting at the time. Once again I would like to thank everyone for praying for her; the doctors say she’s doing a little better. The good thing in all of this is -- she knows who is in control -- and she has great faith in Him.
The faith of a parent is a gift in so many ways. We all know how important it is to have a real life-changing faith, in the real Jesus…and to live that faith in full view of our children and the world. Now that’s a gift! But just as important as living that faith daily – is living it when it’s put to the ultimate test…the end of life here. As the doctors seem to be saying that mom’s days are limited – she is as bright eyed and cheerful as ever --because she knows what all this really means. It really is a gift to have parents who know and trust the Lord.
Again, thank you so much for praying for my family.

On a different note…

My favorite college football team The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl by the score of …34 - 21!

My 2nd Favorite -- Penn State defeated Florida State in triple overtime 26 – 23!

And the great news is -- my favorite NFL team the Pittsburgh Steelers made the playoffs and are playing the Cincinnati Bengals tomorrow at 4:30pm. And I, along with some friends and brothers (I use those terms loosely – they’re Bengal fans) from church get to go to the game. I’m sure it’s going to be a blast!

And just a little FYI – with the unseasonably warm temperatures lately, I’ve had the opportunity to golf a few times since mid-November…three times to be exact. I played 7 holes the day before Thanksgiving- it snowed 1-1/2 inches while I was playing -- it was fun, 4 holes a few days before Christmas, (it got really cold) and 7 holes on the 29th of December, 18 in all, and it only took 3 trips to the course. Golf is a great game, and I consider it a blessing to be able to enjoy it, especially with friends -- or my wife and daughter-friends too, of course!

One last note – God is good!

Thank You!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21

This is one of my many favorite verses in the Bible… I’m sure you feel the same as I do – with all the incredible encouragement God gives through the word; it’s hard to pick just one. But if I had to pick just one… this would be one of them! You see I still can’t narrow it down.

Anyway – I just wanted to say thank you several times to those who have been so encouraging – first to God who knows what we need before we ask – yet still longs for us to share our hearts with him in prayer. Then to all of you -- who have shared your hearts with him concerning the requests listed in my last blog post.

I’ve been blessed to witness God working in wonderful ways concerning the requests in my last post, and I know that your prayers were heard by him. Isn’t it amazing to have the honor and privilege of God getting involved in your life?!
We're blessed beyond what we will ever know… to state the obvious.
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Now a few updates…

My daughter is well and back to her spunky – cute little self. That’s wonderful!

Winter Quarter has started very well for us at Innermission Campus Ministry to Shawnee State University.

Deny, Leigh and the Family arrived home safely. Please continue to pray for the church he serves as a minister.

My mom was released on Friday from Grant Medical Center – was home for a few days – then was admitted to the Holzer Hospital in Jackson, Ohio -- with what they believe to be heart failure.

I spent a long time with mom and my sister last night. We talked, prayed, and read several different passages from the Bible… It was really encouraging to watch God nourish their spirits as we read several of the Psalms, Ephesians 3:20-21, 2Peter 1:3-9.

We had been reading for about 45 minutes when I paused and my mom said – I just love the verse that says “Jesus Wept”. (What you don’t know is that I had been asking God to give the opportunity to talk to mom about death – I wanted to ask her if she was ok, or scared, and if I could do anything to help her.) So taking the opportunity God provided me with, I turned to John 11 and we shared together the story of the death of Lazarus. The story had all three of us so moved -- we talked of how Jesus must have loved them for him to weap over their pain. Then we came to verses 25-26, where Jesus says “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” I looked at mom – and she said “yes I do honey”… and I just had to smile. It’s so amazing to watch God work in such a wonderful way?!

I finished the story, and then we talked about faith, and about her confidence in Him to see her through. We prayed together, hugged and I left for home, reminded of what I already knew – God has all this totally under control – and she is safe in his care. He also reminded me again of how blessed I have always been to have the great spiritual parents He gave to me.

Again – thanks for praying… “With God all things are possible.”

Also to Scott and Terry thanks for the timely visit… you helped set a great atmosphere and helped her laugh – she loves that.