Arrival at the coast!

The lush green backdrop against the ocean water was gorgeous!

Nicole and Andy take a romantic stroll along the beach…

Camp site #1. We didn’t have any reservations or specific agenda for our trip. We just headed North along the coast, stopping at little seaside towns when we felt like it and praying that the Lord would provide a place for us to camp each night.

Nicole cooked some beef the night before we left and we placed it on some foil and Andy cooked it over the fire for some delicious beef sandwiches. Yum!

Day Two. We stopped at Seal Rock State Recreation Site where we had a nice visit with the park ranger and explored some of the sites along the beach…there were dozens of seals frolicking in the waves just beneath the surface.

…hundreds of pelicans lined the ledges of the towering crags.

…and a dead shark graced the beach below. Ugh!

We continued our trek northward with a short stop at the Sea Lion Caves lookout point.

Andy’s brilliant idea of requesting scrap lumber from a lumber yard produced a trunkload of dry wood beams that were perfect for our remaining campfires. Andy bought a hatchet for the purpose and had nice-sized firewood in no time at all!

Camp site #2. We had a much more difficult time finding a vacant camp site the second night (due to the holiday weekend and beautiful weather), but entrusted our need to the Lord and eventually ended up at a nice campground, complete with hot showers!

Leftover chicken fajitas that Andy made earlier in the week served as our meal for the second night once we heated them over the makeshift grill. They were delicious!

It just wouldn’t be a camping trip without s’mores.

The third day, we stopped in a quaint village for a scrumptious feast at The Pizza Garden. The sun was warm and the views breathtaking as we enjoyed our alfresco lunch.

We stopped in Cannon Beach for a smoothie and to get a view of the famous Haystack Rock.

We rolled into Fort Stevens State Park in late afternoon and were thrilled to learn that they had just had a cancellation and had a spot available for us. The park resembled a small village with the massive amounts of people enjoying their Labor Day weekend at the campground. You know the expression, “they brought everything but the kitchen sink”? Well, these people brought everything including the kitchen sink. It was quite the sight! We enjoyed our relatively quiet corner at the edge of the last loop.

Fort Stevens is at the very tip of the Oregon coast where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. In the background of this picture, you can just barely make out the 4+ mile Astoria-Megler bridge that spans the Columbia River from Oregon into Washington.

My new house…

We ended the evening by watching the sunset on the beach and then roasting hotdogs and chasing away raccoons back at our camp site. (Andy discovered a dual purpose for the 2×4s from the lumber yard. I won’t go into details, but I will say that one raccoon went to bed the next morning with a splitting headache…)

We drove through Astoria and across the afore-mentioned bridge into Washington, where we continued our journey along the Oregon coast and into Portland. Nicole and Andy were kind enough to let me visit Powell’s Books - the largest independent bookstore in the world. A booklover’s dream, to be sure! I managed to emerge with only one book in tow and Nicole and Andy survived the ordeal in good spirits.

Books lined shelf after shelf and shelves lined room after room in the multi-story book emporium. We stayed our final night in a hotel just across the river from the airport and I ended my two-week visit with an early morning flight home to rejoin the rest of my family. I had a marvelous time and am so grateful for Nicole and Andy’s hospitality and friendship. What a great end to the summer!

Upon arriving at the house, I was greeted by this cleverly designed scrabble-style message. It’s good to be back home and I look forward to jumping back into the swing of things this fall.

Proverbs 14:8 – “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.”

Proverbs 16:20-21 – “He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he. The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.”

Proverbs 22:3 – “A prudent man forseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.”

It may sound ridiculous, but I had been wanting to run stairs semi-regularly just to change up my workout routine a bit. When this guy invited me to do just that with him, I really wanted to take him up on the offer. I had no interest in a relationship with him, but the prospect of running stairs with someone else was appealing! But the Lord impressed on my mind the realization that to take him up on his offer would be the first step in developing a closer relationship with a young man that could potentially lead me into a situation in the future that was not a path I wanted to travel. Prudence required honestly evaluating the decision before me in light of where the path could potentially lead. A quick journey of my imagination led me to quickly see how far this one decision could lead me to stray from the way of the Lord. All these thoughts flitted through my mind as I ended the conversation, resolute in my rejection of his offer.

Many times, we find ourselves stuck in a hard place or experiencing the heartache of a situation gone bad. Far too often I think this is the result of making careless decisions earlier on without weighing the ramifications or imagining the future situations that may result from those decisions. We reason that if something is not expressly forbidden, it is implicitly allowed; and the result is a foolish decision that ultimately leads us down a path of destruction. Here are three steps that I think will help any Christian avoid placing himself or herself in situations that often result in a great deal of unnecessary pain and heartache.

1. Acknowledge your innate sinful disposition and specific areas of weakness. (See I Corinthians 10:12)

2. When faced with a decision, consider carefully where the path will lead based on which choice you make. (In general, people need to think more. Follow beliefs and actions to their logical conclusion and see if where it leads is where you want to go.)

3. Act prudently, even if it means foregoing pleasures or activities that seem harmless.

Here is how this can play out in practicality:

* I know that I am susceptible to be led astray by false teaching; therefore I choose not to enroll in a university course where I will be subject to inordinate amounts of teaching that is not consistent with God’s Word. [this is a guard against unbelief]

* I know that I can easily become emotionally attached to young men; therefore I choose not to spend time alone with a young man outside of a commitment to marriage. [this is a guard against immorality]

* I know that I have a propensity to overeat sweets; therefore I choose not to eat desserts or high-sugar foods. [this is a guard against gluttony]

* I know that I am easily tempted to become discontent in my singleness; therefore I choose not to read romantic novels that incite unrealistic romantic desires in my heart. [this is a guard against discontentment]

* I know that certain styles of music can lead to emotional instability or draw my heart away from God; therefore I choose not to listen to music that has a heavy rock beat or is excessively dissonant. [this is a guard against backsliding]

No doubt there are hundreds of other applications, and prudence will look different for different people. The important thing is that we present ourselves honestly before the Lord and commit to doing (or not doing) whatever it takes to walk in wisdom and righteousness. Jesus Himself said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). That means that every day I will tell myself “no” to things that I want to do, or I will force myself to do things that I don’t want to do. I will find the strength and power to do this by “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

The presence of Jesus Christ within me enables me to say, “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (II Corinthians 4:16-18).

Someday I will dwell forever in a glorious heavenly paradise where there will be beauty and pleasures beyond my wildest imagination. I am living for that day.

We made it all the way to the top of the trail - a 2.5 mile ride.

The majestic falls!

Here’s the view looking back down the mountain from the top of Tumalo Falls.

Looking over the edge to get a close-up picture.

Once we got back to the bottom of the falls, we decided to try hiking/climbing our way up the river to see how close we could get to the waterfall. There was no path, so we resorted to wading through the water most of the way. Here Andy helps Nicole maneuver the very cold mountain water.

Getting close!

We made it! Now this is what I call a shower.

After a fun ride back down the trails, we grabbed a bite to eat and then embarked on a favorite Bend pasttime - floating down the Deschutes River. The perfect way to relax and soak up sun in the late afternoon!

We met up with my friend Kelsey, whom I haven’t seen for five years, and had a great time catching up in between gasps for breath while climbing up the trail.

Nicole and Andy pose for a picture part way up the trail.

The view from the summit was absolutely breathtaking!

We explored around the top of the rock for a while until the sun set.

The ultimate man-shot.

We finished off the night with an appetizer and drinks with Kelsey and her husband Cory at a cozy Italian restaurant in downtown Redmond.

Self-portrait…

“It is one of the terrible marks of the diseased state of Christian life in these days, that there are so many who rest content without the distinct experience of answer to prayer…There may be cases in which the answer is a refusal, because the request is not according to God’s Word, as when Moses asked to enter Canaan. But still, there was an answer: God did not leave His servant in uncertainty as to His will.”

The more we pray and experience answered prayer, the more we will see life’s happenings from God’s perspective. What specific things have you prayed for this week? How has God answered? How can we declare God’s wondrous works to others if we do not live and pray in such a way that we are even aware of how He is working?

Tonight our family attended an ice cream social hosted by the Pete DeGraaf campaign. There were numerous other candidates in attendance and I had the opportunity to talk with a number of them and ask some questions I’ve had about them and their campaigns. It was very informative and I am much more confident now about who I want to vote for. Plus, we also loaded up on signs so that all of our friends and neighbors who drive by our house will know who to vote for!

For anyone who cares to know which candidates I am supporting, I am listing them below. These candidates are specific to my address, so you will need to check to determine which candidates are running in your precinct, county, district, etc. This Kansas VoterView website is a great place to look up which voting areas you are in. Plus, you can also view your own voting record for all previous elections and your polling place. After you know which voting areas you are in, head on over to the Upcoming Elections Candidate Listing on the Kansas Secretary of State website. (Unfortunately, this list doesn’t include Precinct races, but I think it lists candidates in every other race. I’m not sure where to find a precinct list, so if anyone reading this knows, please share!)

Here are a couple of other helpful resources:

Election ‘08 Voter Guide - The Wichita Eagle conducted an extensive survey of all candidates running for offices - they even included us lowly Precinct Committeemen and Committeewomen - so this guide is a collection of answers from each candidate to specific questions posed on the survey.

Kansans For Life Political Action Committee Pro-Life Voter’s Guide - click on your county to download a PDF file with the corresponding endorsements.

Kansas Republican Assembly Preferred Candidate List -  Click on your county and then on the link to download a PDF file with the corresponding endorsements.

And…here are my endorsements for the August 5 Kansas Primary Election:

United States Senator - Pat Roberts

U.S. Representative 4th District - Todd Tiahrt

State Senator 26th District - Dick Kelsey - Dick is a long-time friend of our family and he has been a staunch and faithful conservative for many years. Plus, he gave away cool pens at the Derby parade!

State Representative 82nd District - Don Myers - Don and his wife Mary are also long-time friends of our family. Don has courageously and faithfully stood opposed to gambling expansion and other critical issues and remains a champion of godly and constitutional principles of government.

18th District Judge Division 1 - Phillip Journey

18th District Judge Division 10 - Bruce Brown - I had a chance to visit with Bruce and his wife, Rachel, for a little while tonight and was very impressed with his thoughts on different issues. I also had a chance to observe him on the streets during the Derby parade and appreciated the way he interacted with people and answered their questions. Not to mention that he has, on more than one occasion, chased down dogs that escaped from houses while he visited with the owners.

18th District Judge Division 27 - Jeff Syrios - I also spoke briefly with Jeff tonight and appreciate his personable, honest and down-to-earth demeanor. I have several friends who have worked at his law office over the years and they have always spoken very highly of him as well.

18th District Judge Division 28 - Eric Commer - Eric was at the ice cream social tonight, but I didn’t get a chance to meet him. However, based on the recommendations of people I respect and the information I’ve been able to learn about him, I’ve decided to vote for him.

Member, State Board of Education 10th District - Marty Marshall

County Clerk - Kelly Arnold - I had a chance to talk with Kelly for a while tonight to get a better idea of what the County Clerk position involves, why he is running for the position and what his plans are for it. He has some great ideas and I think his experience and personality will make him very effective in this position.

County Treasurer - Ron Estes - Ron is running unopposed, but I wanted to put him on my list because I think he’s such a great guy. He’s very friendly and patient in answering lots of questions - I know, because several years ago when we first met, I peppered him with all sorts of questions to find out more about the County Treasurer position. He and his wife, Susan, have done a lot to build the Republican Party in Kansas.

Sheriff - Dal L Astle

Precinct Committeeman - Norm McGeeney

Precinct Committeewoman - Natalie Wickham -  Yes, I’m voting for myself and I hope anyone reading this who lives in my precinct will vote for me too!

This has been an exciting campaign season thus far and we have some really wonderful candidates running. As the Lord brings the election to mind, please pray for these candidates and their families.  It’s a lot of hard, exhausting work to run an effective campaign and it can take a toll on a person - mentally, emotionally and physically. Of course, we are also praying for victory, but trust that God is Sovereign and the outcome is in His hands. Just don’t forget to do your part and vote on Tuesday, August 5!

Obama: In the World and of It

Hearts are still thumping from Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-Ill.) rock tour through Europe, but back home the trip has prompted more than a few uneasy Americans to wonder what, exactly, the Illinois Senator is running for. The man campaigning for President appears to be more consumed with becoming world sovereign than leader of the United States. These days, it’s easy to become confused about Obama’s agenda as nations trip over themselves to throw out a welcome mat for the unconventional nominee-to-be.

Using his uncanny ability to touch hearts without ever touching on policy, Obama has perfectly choreographed the trip through Europe’s progressive hotspots, where his biggest selling point seems to be his ability to distance himself from the nation he’s vying to lead. In his speech yesterday, the man whose campaign is already calling him president spent more time apologizing for America than he did representing it. With the crowd cheering and cameras flashing, Obama talked of “hope” and “change.” He spoke of disarming America of nuclear weapons and addressing climate change. He dreamed of a nation “where every language is spoken,” and every culture leaves “its imprint”–an America that puts global citizenship ahead of its moral identity.

As David Brooks said in today’s New York Times, “When John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan went to Berlin, their rhetoric soared, but their optimism was grounded in the reality of politics, conflict, and hard choices… Reagan didn’t call for a kumbaya moment… Obama has benefited from a week of good images. But substantively, optimism without reality isn’t eloquence. It’s just Disney.” The problem, of course, is that a lot of Americans live in a Disney world.

If you haven’t yet heard about Inspiring an Entrepreneurial Vision - A Christian Family Training Seminar, then you are out of the loop! Caleb Hayden and his family are organizing the event and it looks like it will be a wonderful time of learning and fellowship with other entrepreneurial families. Wade Myers of New Venture Lab is the featured guest speaker and he will be joined by several other local entrepreneurs to inspire and equip attendees to successfully build their own businesses. Our family is planning to attend and we are really looking forward to it!

Our family just spent last week in Branson for the Defending Your Faith Christian Apologetics conference hosted by Answers In Genesis. The week was occupied with a visit by Nadine to celebrate her birthday, a picnic under the stars, a couple rounds of miniature golf, lounging in the sun by the pool, playing tennis, reading books and sitting through inspiring sessions at the conference.The three main speakers were Ken Ham, Doug Phillips and Voddie Baucham and every message was wonderful! Through this conference I was challenged, in part, to embark on a study of A Biblical Approach to Marketing. So far, it’s been fascinating and amazing to see what the Bible has to say about this area! Thankfully, Naomi has taken on the task of reporting about this trip in more detail, so you can view commentary and pictures on her blog.

Last Saturday, we finally held the much-anticipated Music Olympics festival that our local music teachers association has been planning for months. It was a great day of competition, fun and games that was an overwhelming success, thanks to visionary committee members, adventurous teachers, motivated students, committed parents and numerous corporate sponsors. I have lots of fun pictures from the Team Competitions, Ensemble Play-Offs and Game Carnival. Perhaps I can talk Naomi into doing a blog post for this too…

And with less than two weeks until the August 5 primary, we can’t escape a mention of the upcoming elections! I found out several weeks ago that I have an opponent in my race for Precinct Committeewoman, so I had to do a little more work than usual this year - sending out letters and setting up a website to help inform the voters in my precinct (btw, if anyone reading this is a CSS expert, perhaps you can help me figure out why the alignment for the main body text is distorted in Firefox 2, but fine in IE and FF3…). There are a lot of great candidates running this year, but I’ve been most actively involved in the campaigns for Pete DeGraaf and Don Myers. They are both wonderful, godly men and we are praying for their success! Remember to vote on August 5!

“Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.”

Psalm 119:27

This verse is my latest challenge and inspiration. I think Psalm 119 is my favorite chapter in the Bible - it is just beautiful. As I’ve been meditating on this verse, I’ve been impressed with the realization that when we understand God’s ways, we will have a perspective that allows us to see God working in the daily events that transpire. And when we see how God is working, we will be able and compelled to talk of them to everyone around us. As best as I can tell from studying the Hebrew roots and looking up cross-references, God’s precepts seems to be those commands and examples which instruct us, especially in the face of false ways and when others try to lead us astray. Contrasted with the word, intercept, it would be that which directs a course of action ahead of time, rather than that which alters its course partway.

God has given us precepts to help us know how to do things His way. Commands and biblical examples may both fulfill this purpose for us. So I have been inspired anew to dig deeply into God’s eternal Word, mining from it that which will help me chart the course of each day so that I may continually talk of His wondrous works!