Summer Has Arrived

The temperature has finally started to go up... and although getting the numbers to come out was harder than I thought it would be... you can faintly make out that it's "just" 105.3 F (ok, about 42 C) at 5pm... we're very glad for A/C that's for sure.

Weekends....

This was what I really went out to take a few more pictures of... and got the brick truck below too...

It was a very nice weekend. Angela spent the night at Julia's for her birthday party Friday night... we had a work going away and new comer welcome party (although... it seemed that most of those just arriving were traveling seeing the country and those that are leaving... weren't at the party in their honor either...)

Last night was Great ... we cooked up a 5 pound (ok... 5.27 lb) piece of pork Hawaiian Kalua style... and got together with a few very good friends and just enjoyed dinner together...

We also had Angela leaving the family camera at school on Thursday... actually, she had left it on the bus... we went to the school this morning checking her classroom... and no camera... went to lost and found... still no camera... I never really gave the bus monitors office much thought, but Angela checked there on the way home... and thankfully it was indeed there. Yes a camera is just "stuff" ... but we know God cares about our cares... when we turn them over to Him... He's our Father and that's something Dad's get stuck with from time to time, watching over the kids stuff... and yes He did bring it back home. With a vacation on the horizon a replacement was not something I wanted to spend money on at this time that's for sure. Thank you Lord.

Logistic Lessons 101

I went out to take some more pictures of the flame trees today and saw this load of bricks being moved and had to capture it... there's something to be said for balancing a load huh? The guy catching the bricks was walking along side trying to hold them up... not quite sure how far he was planning to hold the bricks from falling while his buddy drove...

When God Ministers to Those That Minister

It's such an honor to sing on the worship team here at MCC, but there are those times when God reaches down and deeply ministers directly to the members leading the time of worship... and tonight was one of those times for me. As we were finishing up Faithful One (by Brian Doerksen) and while singing "Your love is the anchor" a few times extra times during the closing of the song, really allowed the Holy Spirit to reach down and touch me... It's awesome to be able to worship the Creator of the Universe.... and especially on a day like today... you see, I learned today that I was not selected for promotion during the annual record review, but really, it's a minor thing compared to being able to serve and worship our God... and tonight, being on the worship team was exactly where God knew I needed to be so He could remind me of what's really important ... Thank you Lord for placing us in the right place, at the right time... all the time.

There's Always A Season

This last week we've seen the "flame trees" coming to life... and they're simply awesome to see ... the beautiful red is such a nice change of pace from the sand color that everything seems to turn here... of course I do believe red is the best color of all the colors, but thankfully there are the other colors so red can standout as it does. As a side note, this picture was taken today, 23 May 2007 but notice the classic cars parked around the tree. ... ah one other thing that's been nicely this week... traffic seems to be a little lighter than usual... maybe because of college final exams... but the bottom line is it's been nice and light!

While on the topic of always a season... it seems for me I've come to a season of not reading the word like I know I should... or like previous "season" where I just couldn't seem to put it down ... and last night during our cell group, I wanted to repent before the men there of what God slapped me upside the head with ... but I just couldn't get the words out of my mouth (pride) ... so ... I'm convicted to post it here. Lord forgive me for neglecting Your word and I ask for a renewed eagerness to study Your word. Thank you for revealing my shortcoming Lord and bringing me back to where You have called me to be.

A Day Away

It's amazing what just a few hours away from home can do for one's outlook on things. We took off to the Marriott just 20 minutes from our flat for 2 days of swimming and a night in their king sized bed and the use of their wonderful shower (great pressure and plenty of hot water)... and everything seems manageable once again :)

Of course we realize that God is in control of everything in our lives, but there are indeed those times when you just need to get away from the day-to-day to get things back into perspective... While reading "In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day" there's a line that states "Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshiping what's right with God". Wow! Now, that's what serving our Creator is all about.... and that's exactly what He longs for us to come to understand... He accepts us as we are... we don't have to clean up before coming to Him... we just need to come just as we are!

Static Electricity and Hair

Mia was checking out Daddy's blog and when I asked her if she wanted me to post a better picture of her... she said "Sure!" ... and this is what she picked... .enjoy ... just another example of her "electric" personality.

Is it His leading or am I tempting Him?

Just over two weeks ago I saw a job announcement for a position back in the states that would be a "perfect" change from my current job to a more permanent / don't have to move any more position.... and in that instant I submitted my resume, especially since the day I saw the job posting was the closing dated for resume submissions... and during this whole flurry of activity I prayed (loosely paraphrased 'cause I don't remember the exact words)... God, if this is your will for us then may Your blessing be here... and if we are suppose to stay where you've put us now... that's fine too ... well, yesterday word came back that I'm qualified for the job... but not ranked high enough for placement... which is the confirmation to me that our work here in Egypt is not done. So... when I saw the job advert I wasn't sure at that moment if it was His leading for us or if it was just me going down the wrong direction... well... thank you Father for keeping me on the right path!

Actually, I think now that we're coming up on one year in country... our work is really just beginning here. Last week I completed the cell pastors training course with five other people. The course really was so much more than I expected when it comes to leading small groups ... and to really know the vision of what our small groups should be doing (reaching out to those around us and brining them to Christ)... so... as much as I felt at the beginning.... and even at times during the course... that it was "just a formality" to be able to lead groups here, God has shown me that was nothing more than my own pride saying "Oh yeah, I know how to lead small groups"... but really... God still had more to show me... but I couldn't see it until I opened my heart ... but now... Wow! Am I ready to lead a group all on my own?? ... NO! but I did learn that it's not about doing it alone... so in that regard maybe I am ready... to help in running / coordinating / hosting ... or whatever God has for us to do within a small group.

On another note... Girl Scouts officially ended this last weekend for the school year... it's been great for the girls that's for sure... And our female hamster is proving to be a female by having another litter of "pups"... but is down to just 1 survivor from the 4 born... we're going to have to get some eduction on helping the little hamsters survive because mama seems to like the way her young taste...

Welcome Hayden

On 5 May... at 7:07 pm... est ... Hayden Jean-Jackson Keffer came into our world. It's amazing to see my kids ... having their own kids already! Liana, you've done well... congratulations on delivering a beautiful young lady.

Not Your Average Week

This was an interesting week. Our youngest daughter Karmia had her piano recital on Tuesday night... and she played "Ode to Joy" ... perfectly before a room of about 50 people ... we're very proud of her! I wasn't quick enough to catch her "lighting up the keys" but here she is with her older sis and her rose.


This week marked the first time in my life I fasted for more than one day... and honestly the last time I remember fasting for just one day was back in 1991... so... for me it was significant to even desire to fast for more than one day and to trust God to carry me through the three days I fasted. It's amazing how much more in tune to God you become when fasting... I know it won't be 16 more years til the next time I fast ... I actually wanted to fast longer than 3 days but started to question my own motives ... as if God could be manipulated by my fasting... but to ensure my motives were pure I stopped fasting after 3 days... for personal praise and worship time I was listening to Ross Parsley and the Desperation Band's My Savior Lives CD... and the worship set of songs 4-9 are an outstanding set that lead right to the feet of our Lord! Wow! He really is "Wonderful, Beautiful, Glorious, Matchless in every way."

While reading from "The Secrets Men Keep" by Stephen Arterburn it's interesting as he looks at Gen 3:16 "Your desire will be for you husband, and he will rule over you." ... and he concentrates on the word "desire"... where it's the same word desire from Gen 4:7... where it's understood that this desire is a "desire to rule over"... which could explain why many couples have conflict that they don't even understand how or why it's there... he mentions couples walk a thin line between respect and responsibility, freedom and obligation... but these conflicts are overcome by serving each other in the love of Christ (as us husbands are commanded to do in Eph 5:25).