Back To School

It's amazing... another summer gone by and the girls are back to school again. I know for me back to school always was followed by the changing of the leaves and the change of seasons... there was always something a little magical about this time of year... I mean, don't get me wrong... I was never one to look forward to going back to school, but I still liked fall and all that went with it. Jumping in piles of leaves... the first day you can "see" your breath... and then of course there's football... lots and lots of football... pee-wee (ok, micro, juniors and seniors) ... high school... college... and yeah... pro... never too much football....

Well... no leaves are changing in our neighborhood... we'll have to leave all the "leaf racking" to you there :-) One thing that is the same though... and that is that the Lord is here too... working here in this land just as He was thousands of years ago. Continue to pray for a softening of peoples hearts here in Egypt so they will be open and receptive to the word of God and to come to a true understanding of who their Savior really is and to have the courage to accept Him today.

Rescue Diver Course

What a weekend... the seven of us that have been working on the PADI Rescue Diver course went to Dahab and did all the skill sets required in the water... what a workout the actual retrieval of the simulated unconscious diver and then the towing of them to shore ... then couple that with the rescue breathing... wow... I was spent by the time it was over... the great thing about the course is it teaches you to look out for those around you... and because you've practiced the many of the different type of unusual things that could ...and sometimes do happen while diving... well... you're just more prepared for the "what ifs" of diving.

The girls finished up their week of Vacation Bible School on Thursday... they really like the tunes that they heard there... And now tomorrow is the beginning of another school year here :-)

Is The Pressure Really On... Or is it Just Me?

What do I mean by that? I seem to manage to fill every minute of the day with stuff... of course there's time for work (don't work... don't eat) ... then there's the one college course this semester... put a bible study in there once a week... add the Rescue Diving course training going on the last 2 weeks... plus... well, you get the picture... but what is it all for?

I know yesterday I was a little stressed after having taken the family to Ain Sukna to rest. Imagine that, we go away to rest... and I come back more stressed. The kids had a good time, swimming in the pool there... and wading in the shallow Red Sea and playing in the sand and mud there... but I came back more stressed because of falling a chapter behind in the online course coupled with the diving class going on. But God knew my stress and intervened... He knew I was concerned how I'd get a major homework project done while doing the diving course work... so He provided a shortened diving training class last night... allowing me to focus on the college work... and really bringing a load of relief to an over-active- self-imposed- stress- filled- mind.

Cast your care on the Lord, He will never let the righteous fall. Ps 55:22 That about sums it up. When everything seems out of control... it's time to re-center and remember that He is the one that is in control of everything.

I Will Be Careful to...

....................................................... Lead a Blameless Life-

Wow. Ever read something and you think... ah, that's great for him... or someone else, but there's no way that applies to ME! Yeah, that's what I had to ask myself last night while reading Psalms 101 when I got to the 2nd verse. . . So, does it apply?

I mean when the Psalm started it was "all good". Here we have "I will sing of your love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will sing praise". Fair enough... easy enough really... I love to sing... and hey, to sing of His love and justice... all right... let the singing begin. Then there's where we're suppose to love others in the love of Christ, still an admirable thing but ok, let's give it a try. But then David makes this declaration in v2 that "I will be careful to lead a blameless life - when will you come to me? I will walk in my house with blameless heart. v3 I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of the faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me"

Again I have to say... wow! I mean giving my life to Christ is one thing... but to make a commitment to do "my part" and covenant with Christ to lead a blameless life... I know it's just me and my selfish self but ... I don't usually think of "attempting" to live a blameless life. I've always just thought... if I do good, praise God... if I fall... ah, Lord will you forgive "this... again"... and move on again... but to covenant to be blameless... and that beginning in my own house before even getting to the house of God... that's a real commitment. I mean, there are so many ways for a guy to sin... at home... where it's out of the public sight... but God knows... and that's where my own commitment needs to begin... Now what does it all mean?

I believe in the end it comes down to faith in our Lord. We've not capable of living the sinless life, otherwise we wouldn't need the Savior. But... by His grace coupled with His Spirit, we are washed clean and can live a blameless life, but really, it's by His Spirit we (I) can live a blameless life. Wow! Live LARGE in Christ!