San Diego

Well I have tons of photos from my father-son trip to San Diego visiting Grandpa Ed and Grandma Chan, so here are a few albums. Aidan was sporting his new hair-do and lookin' cool. We had some time at the beach, some time at the zoo and lots of time at Grandpa Ed's hot tub.

Spending time with my dad and Chan was special. Aidan enjoyed our time to Miramar Reservoir, too. Especially the ginormous duck creatures we saw. I have no idea what they were, but they were as big as Aidan, literally. Of course, he chased them and then tried to beat the other smaller ducks with a stick.

Dad and Chan mean the world to us. Through the years, they have been supportive of our family decisions and always are there to lend an ear to our personal struggles. We love them dearly and wish we could see them more often.

Risen Thoughts...

Well, I have been off the blog the past week, as Aidan and I took a trip to San Diego to see my Dad and his wife Chan. So consider me a slacker...anyway, pics from the trip to surely come by weekend. In the meantime, here are some devotional thoughts today:

"The doctrine of a risen Savior is exceedingly precious. The resurrection is the cornerstone of the entire building of Christianity. It is the keystone of the arch of our salvation. It would take a volume to set out all the streams of living water that flow from this one sacred source, the resurrection of our dear Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. But to know that He has risen, and to have fellowship with Him as such-communing with the risen Savior by possessing a risen life-seeing Him leave the tomb by leaving the tomb of worldliness ourselves-this is even more precious still." -- Spurgeon

2006 has brought me to a better understanding that my access to Jesus runs very deep, deeper than the deepest well. My communion with him is more than a "quiet time" or reading my Bible. It's more than singing praise songs or even praying with my family. It is an intimacy that cannot be expressed fully in words. It's a communion of two lovers, one loved perfectly and the other trying to love back with great fault. Despite my faults, Jesus awaits me every single day to talk with him, weep with him and celebrate life with him. He is risen! Should I not be risen with him? Should I not awake each day with fervent passion for life? Should I not pursue souls with abandon? Should I not love my family with all I have? Of course I should...my every breath should lead me closer to him.

I have been wrestling in my heart lately as to how I can bring this reality into my life. To intimately walk with Jesus with an honest, transparent heart. I'm still learning. Responding to his leading has certainly brought me into closer fellowship with him. It's rewarding - not in an earthly, material sense, rather in an eternal, spiritual sense. Praise God for his patience with me, too, for I am often a stubborn learner.

-- Peter

Home Inside of Me

"What an honor to entertain the Son of God! The heaven of heavens cannot contain Him, and yet He condescends to find a house within our hearts! We are not worthy that He should come under our roof, but what an unutterable privilege when He condescends to enter!" - Spurgeon

Back in 1991, Wes King wrote a song called "Home Inside of Me". Its one of my all-time favorites. I can hear "of all the places you could be, you choose to make your home inside of me." That song burned a thought in my mind as a young believer that God dwells where he pleases. The universe is his creation. The universe is not vast enough to contain him, yet his chooses to dwell in the hearts of believers. God also chose to dwell among us a human for roughly 30 years. He chose to do it as an average looking man, humble, hard-working, meek. He did not come in triumphant grandeur with trumpets blasting and angels singing. He showed up as a baby boy in a rejected location surrounded by dirt, crap, and animals. He entered the world of smells and sin. He then lived among us knowing his true home was somewhere else and to get back there, he would have to suffer the greatest of all suffering. Then, for those who accept him, he sends his Spirit to dwell in us. The Spirit protects, comforts, corrects, and encourages us in our walk. God is with us every thought, word and step of the day. He dwells in me as I type this blog. He knows what word I am about to type.

Why then, do I choose the worldly thought? Why do I choose the worldly attitude? Why do I selfishly care for myself before others? You know...Kris and I were visiting with a homeless man named Tim last Thursday. We talked with him for about a half hour. Tim has lived all over the country, has worked numerous trades, has slept in about every state in the country. He told us of how he is a follower of Christ, and that his home is in heaven. He told us stories of how he has never owned a car and never will. He shared with us the joys of living in Boulder because it is the most beautiful city in America (he may be right!). He shared stories of hiking Bear Mountain and Sugarloaf Canyon. He shared how his life is so simple and how he always has what he needs to survive. I envy Tim in a way. Not because I want his life, but more because I want his mindset on life. He lives for Jesus with minimal worries and enjoys what God has given him. He isn't concerned with mortgages, car payments, being on time for work, paying off the credit card, etc. He wakes up and says, "where shall I hike today?" Amazing. I chose the life of family and accept the responsibilities that comes with it. But, in some ways, I am learning to live like Tim. To shed my possessions and worries for simplicity and joy in sharing God's truth with those who need him. It only makes sense...Jesus did the same thing.

--Peter

My Bloggin' Wife

Hey, my wife is now a blogger, although she is such a rebel and went with Xanga...check out her blog by clicking on "Jan's Blog" link to the right.

--Peter

High Thoughts

I was challenged this weekend with my thoughts of Jesus while worshipping. I read from my devotional the following..."Our Lord would have all His people rich in high and happy thoughts concerning His blessed person. Jesus is not content that His brethren should think poorly of Him; it is His pleasure that His people should be delighted with His beauty. We are not to regard Him as a bare necessity, like bread and water, but as a luxurious delicacy, as a rare and ravishing delight. To this end He has revealed Himself as the "pearl of great price" in its peerless beauty, as the "bundle of myrrh" in its refreshing fragrance, as the "rose of Sharon" in its lasting perfume, as the "lily" in its spotless purity."

How often I find myself guilty of only regarding Jesus as a need in my life, and not regarding him as the highest of highs, the Exalted One, the Risen Savior seated at the right hand of God the Father in heaven. I was encouraged by the difference in my worship last night with Emmaus Road as Brandon and I led the group in songs. Thinking upon Jesus this way changes how we sing, how we feel, how we are amazed at Christ's character. It helped me bring the reality of who Jesus is into my effort to lead corporate worship.

As another note of encouragement...last night we had some folks come from a house church in Superior to our ER gathering. The group included some pre-teen girls who simply blew me away with their wisdom and inquiring atttitude. Molly, one of the girls asked Josh (our co-pastor) during the kids challenge, "So, what makes God special to us?" WOW! I was blown away at her transparency and honest interest in God. I've never once met an adult with the courage to ask that question in a group worship time. Then, Kate, another young lady, answered a question posed by Kris (our pastor) regarding people and their stronghold on possessions, "When people start to get things, they start needing to have something better and better...they work to earn possessions and then they are never satisfied with what they get and want more." This came from a girl that couldn't have been a day over 12. I only wish I could've expressed myself with that kind of wisdom at her age! I see God working in so many ways in my life. He even teaches me and shapes me through young children. So encouraging...

So, what's the point of all this? It's simple...when my thoughts of Christ are high and lofty, I am brought closer to him. When I am brought closer to him, I think upon things that matter, not myself. When I am not thinking about myself, I am ready and able to be taught. When I am ready to be taught, God teaches me so much about who he is and his desires (Isa 55:8). Those lessons don't just come from my pastor, my readings or my adult friends. Those lessons show up in my life through every circumstance, even in a conversation with a child.

Look for God today. Look at him the way he should be looked upon. Then, look for him in your everyday life. Look for Jesus in the surrounding beauty. Look for him in the morning sunrise. Look for him in your co-workers. Look for him in your daily provision (yes, that sandwich came from God). Look for him in the eyes of a homeless man needing a conversation. Look for him everywhere. Don't see him? Crack open the Word, study his truth, pray for wisdom, then get up tomorrow and try again. I doubt you will struggle to find him. In fact, I know you won't...

--Peter

Pic: Devil's Thumb - Boulder, CO