Once upon a time, I spent 10 days on a whirlwind trip through Israel. There was so much to see that I kept a running journal just to remember it all. This road trip has been like that.

From the lush green countryside of Virginia and Tennesee to the moon-like landscape of Arizona and Southern California to the literal heights of the Rockies in Colorado, our country is stunning and stunningly diverse. 

Yesterday in Ouray, CO ( a wonderful small town at 7792 ft elevation that feels like Sedona but without the weirdness) we had a lengthy conversation with an ex-county sheriff who provided protection for John Wayne when they shot the original True Grit on location there. 

Today we drove the rest of the ‘Mother Road’, Route 66. In the same town where Gable and Lombard honeymooned now wild burros reign.

Ever the consummate tour guide, Capt Walt took me to his favorite spot In the world, Lake Havasu, AZ. The temp was 104 as we viewed the London Bridge, a bridge literally disassembled in London, England and stone by stone reconstructed in Havasu. Amazing.

The trip is winding down. Tonight we’ll hit LA. Tomorrow we’ll catch up with friends and family. In the next few days we’ll fly east and take up our lives once more. 

This will forever be an amazing, magical adventure. And all because Capt Walt needed to move a car. 

Cool!

We arrived in South Fork Sunday evening. Two things jump out: the totally friendly people and the spectacular beauty all around. 

Monday we spent most of the day on the Rio Grand rafting and fly fishing. Put three guys on a raft, two of which have never held a fly rod. It was hilarious. And on top of that we were sure the fish were making fun of us.

Such beauty. 

Today we head to Ouray, CO. And then to Flagstaff. Up the Million Dollar highway. And we thing we have mountains back east…..

So…stopped at The Big Texan in Amarillo last night for dinner, home of the 72 ounce steak challenge. The idea is to eat the steak (really a massive roast) a salad, baked potato, and rolls in 60 minutes. It defeated Adam Richmond on Man vs  Food.  NEITHER of us rose to the challenge. There IS A 120 lb womb named Molly Schuyler who are TWO who meals the first time and came back two months ago to eat THREE! Look her up on YouTube. In the second video she looks like a carnivorous Unabomber!

Some kid was attempting last night but I doubt he made it half way.

Today we drove to Santa Rosa to see what they call the Blue Hole. In Mexico they call these a cenote. It’s 60 ft across and 80 ft deep, fresh water fed and 61 degrees. Very popular with local scuba divers. Where else can they find water like that in Santa Rosa. I swam in one in Mexico…not today.

After picking up a friend of the captain’s (another Mike) at the Sunport in Albuquerque we drove to Santa Fe. What a wild place! Heard a new three piece all girl band named Zenobia. Got a selfie with the very blue-haired bass player. 

Now it’s on to South Fork, Colorado, river rafting and fly-fishing. Supposed to get to 48 tonight. 

Road trip continues.

ok…we got out of Virginia! Got to North Little Rock last night. Just passed Oklahoma City with Amarillo our next stop. 

I love the light here…lighter, bluer.

Next stop is the 72 oz steak challenge. Will we do it? Time will tell! 

Last stop of the day is Tucumcari, NM.

The Southwest…my second home.

So…Capt Walt and I are headed to LA…the long way. I’ve always wanted to drive cross country. So here we go. First day…Little Rock or bust. Good conversation and new sights…I-81 to I-40. Will we EVER get out of Virginia?

This morning I sat on my front porch and prayed for all the faith leaders I know, all over the country…all over the world. I prayed that as they stood to speak that their hearts would be flooded with passion and awe for the radical truth of Jesus. And that in the power of God, those present will experience a transformational moment.

It’s an honor to intercede for them all. 

As I’ve prepared today for Christmas at 2333 Roosevelt Blvd with a combined service with our Downtown Campus, I’ve begun getting Christmas greetings from my friends around the world. From David in Kenya to Arthur in Liberia, from Gray in Malawi to Edward in Pakistan, and Ramesh in Nepal. It’s this wonderful global celebration.

The volunteers are pouring in here to prepare for all who will celebrate their Christmas eve with us. At our North Campus, they’re celebrating ONE YEAR as a campus for GCC at Lake Holiday.  It feels like time to take stock of the year.

it’s been a blessed year at Grace Community. We launched TWO new locations in 12 months. Thank you God for two awesome leaders in Lee Reams and Brad Hill. I spent time in Africa with Grace Community Church – Malawi and it’s gifted leader, Gray Mnunkha. We shipped over 400 Operation Christmas Child boxes and bought more than 800 gifts for 104 kids here in Winchester. This community of Jesus-followers are a generous group.

Between outré three campuses, we’ve seen 75+ persons make first time commitments to Jesus. And THIS year we’ve adopted a new mission statement: Disciples making disciples. Simple. Powerful. Matthew 28!

Tonight we have friends from a half-way houses and recovery centers joining us. And always we have friends and family of GCC’ers coming to be apart. On top of that, our band tonight is a combination of singers and players from Roosevelt and Downtown. It’s going to be ash exceptional night.

God has been especially good to GCC this year. And next year is going to ROCK! New ministries and a six-month series on the words of Jesus. I can’t wait.

So…Jesus..thank you…for making us worthy to serve you, to know you, to love you!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

I will never forget one of my favorite toys as a child. It was the iconic etch-a-sketch. Thinking back, it was a precursor to the iPad. Well…kinda.

All you could do with it was draw pictures. And halftone images at that. But still, spinning those two dials could create such fascinating images. I spent hours with that thing. I doubt I was ever very good. But using it was a way of expressing my thoughts. The simple images were great fun to create.

The down side of this toy was that the images were very fragile. Bump it, shake it, or (God forbid) turn it upside down, and the image went away. It was actually something my older brother took devilish delight in…erasing my meticulously drawn images. Of course, I ALWAYS returned the favor.

I grew up. The etch-a-sketch was broken and discarded. The images I created in my grown up life were now three dimensional and full color. It was my life, my family, my work, my faith.

I’ve come to notice something sobering about life. It still has it’s etch-a-sketch moments…times when the images we carefully create are wiped away. Sometimes by the actions of another person, sometimes by our own actions.

Suddenly, it’s time to start over, to create new images, new components of our life. Whether it’s our work, our marriage, or our friendships, life offers lots of etch-a-sketch moments. Moments when our carefully considered life just goes away.

These moments can be frightening or exhilarating. Filled with hope or marked by despair. Two years ago my life was on rails…I knew where it was going. These days…not so much.

To be my age and have so many unanswered questions is disquieting. On the other hand…it’s also exciting. It means I’m not creating this image, this life. I’ve handed it over to God, to Elohim, to Creator God.

If He can create all the world around me, all of creation…I know He can handle my life. So bring on the etch-a-sketch moments…He’s got this!!!