Hey it's Jacob back for another post on my dad's blog. I am currently on a mission trip in Oklahoma City. Dad was not able to be here and I deeply wish for everyone who reads this to pray for him. He is the bravest and most incredible person I will ever meet in my life and I know it tears him up not being able to be on this mission. God has a plan for everything in our lives. He has been working with me in what I consider one of the toughest missions I've been apart of. I have been dealing with my own sorrows and valleys in my life and this mission is helping me use God to deal with them. Lately I have been missing those little things that the Lord does in our lives that make a huge difference. Like when someone gives you kind words or a hug when you need it the most. Those things from God are helping me get through all the the stuff that is hard. I have also learned that even though you don't get what you pray for automatically that doesn't mean that God has ignored your prayer completely. He does what he thinks you need in your life to get you closer to him. At first I was so upset that all of these horrible things were happening and I couldnt find God in anything. But then I looked and found him in a place that was in front of me the whole time...my sister Stephanie. She has taken care of me and showed me how to live life for God and with God in every action you take. She has showed me how to love as well. I owe most of my "recovery" to her. I have learned that most of the time you dont see how the Lord has answered a prayer for you, but the ripples are endless. In the darkest times and places of our lives we cling to that canlde in the dark. But if it goes out unexpectedly you need not fear. God will give you a flame in some shape or form to put you back in the light.
I will leave you with lyrics from a song by Tenth Avenue North that I think all of us can relate to.
"My love is over, it's underneath, it's inside, it's in between. The times you're broken. The times when you mend. The times you hate me and the times that you bend. The times you're healing and when your heart breaks. The times when you feel like you've fallen from grace.The times you are hurting. The times that you heal. The times that you have been tempted to steal. The times of confusion and chaos and pain. Ill share in your sorrow under the weight of your shame. Im there through your heartache and there through the storm. My love I will keep you by my power alone. I dont care where you've fallen or where you have been. Ill never forsake you, my love never ends. It never ends. My love is over, it's underneath, it's inside, it's in between." Love you dad.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
The Big Question
Greetings,
In my last blog I told you that I would be taking us through the book Andy Andrews entitled The Final Summit. For those of you who are Andy Andrews fan will recognize that this book picks up with the main character, David Ponder, who is now in his seventies. In the book The Traveler's Gift David Ponder is moved through the past so that he can meet seven different historical figures who gives him an important life lessons. These are called the "Seven Decision". Now, he finds himself at the age of seventy-four having loss his wife to cancer and a hermit in an immense skyscraper that his company has built.
At the beginning of our story David finds himself reliving his journeys in the past and in the grips of depression over the loss of his wife. It is at this point the archangel Gabriel pays a visit to David. Having met Gabriel in the The Traveler's Gift David is not as stunned as you might think a person meeting an archangel might be. It is at this time that Gabriel informs David that God has lost hope in the world and plans on "starting over" much like He did with Noah's flood. Gabriel informs David that he will be leading a summit meeting with other traveler's throughout time. David, who does not believe that he has the ability to lead a summit of great minds and thinkers, tries to convince Gabriel that he is not the man for the job. Unchanged in his decision Gabriel transports David to a room that sits just outside the throne of Grace in heaven.
It is at this moment that David is informed that a summit of traveler's in the past will join him and that there job is to restore God's hope in humanity. A question is provided to David and he, and five other traveler's, must answer the following question: “What does humanity need to do, individually and collectively, to restore itself to the pathway toward successful civilization?” The question seems straight forward to David until Gabriel tells him that there is a time limit, he can only have direct help from five other travelers, and the answer is only two words long. What follows is an intense discussion between David and the other travelers which I will introduce to you in the days to follow.
It is my prayer that as we make our way through the book we will learn life lessons that can be applied in our lives everyday. It is almost my hope that, as we seek to answer the questions ourselves, that the wisdom from travelers in the past would guide us towards knowledge and wisdom.
So, “What does humanity need to do, individually and collectively, to restore itself to the pathway toward successful civilization?” This is our quest over the next few months. I think that you will find that the answer is quite simple yet difficult to do. So, let us begin our journey and join the travelers of the past as we gather together at The Final Summit!
Blessings,
Derek
In my last blog I told you that I would be taking us through the book Andy Andrews entitled The Final Summit. For those of you who are Andy Andrews fan will recognize that this book picks up with the main character, David Ponder, who is now in his seventies. In the book The Traveler's Gift David Ponder is moved through the past so that he can meet seven different historical figures who gives him an important life lessons. These are called the "Seven Decision". Now, he finds himself at the age of seventy-four having loss his wife to cancer and a hermit in an immense skyscraper that his company has built.
At the beginning of our story David finds himself reliving his journeys in the past and in the grips of depression over the loss of his wife. It is at this point the archangel Gabriel pays a visit to David. Having met Gabriel in the The Traveler's Gift David is not as stunned as you might think a person meeting an archangel might be. It is at this time that Gabriel informs David that God has lost hope in the world and plans on "starting over" much like He did with Noah's flood. Gabriel informs David that he will be leading a summit meeting with other traveler's throughout time. David, who does not believe that he has the ability to lead a summit of great minds and thinkers, tries to convince Gabriel that he is not the man for the job. Unchanged in his decision Gabriel transports David to a room that sits just outside the throne of Grace in heaven.
It is at this moment that David is informed that a summit of traveler's in the past will join him and that there job is to restore God's hope in humanity. A question is provided to David and he, and five other traveler's, must answer the following question: “What does humanity need to do, individually and collectively, to restore itself to the pathway toward successful civilization?” The question seems straight forward to David until Gabriel tells him that there is a time limit, he can only have direct help from five other travelers, and the answer is only two words long. What follows is an intense discussion between David and the other travelers which I will introduce to you in the days to follow.
It is my prayer that as we make our way through the book we will learn life lessons that can be applied in our lives everyday. It is almost my hope that, as we seek to answer the questions ourselves, that the wisdom from travelers in the past would guide us towards knowledge and wisdom.
So, “What does humanity need to do, individually and collectively, to restore itself to the pathway toward successful civilization?” This is our quest over the next few months. I think that you will find that the answer is quite simple yet difficult to do. So, let us begin our journey and join the travelers of the past as we gather together at The Final Summit!
Blessings,
Derek
Thursday, June 16, 2011
The Final Summit
Greetings,
For any of you who have been following my journey for any length of time know that I am an Andy Andrews fan. His books have changed my life in so many ways. I have also used this blog to share some of his ideas and books with you. I would like to do that once more.
So, over the summer our journey home is going to take us through Andy's Andrews book "The Final Summit". If you have read the book, wonderful!. If you haven't that's OK too! Beginning tomorrow we will begin to share in the challenge that a group of historical have been given - to come up with the answer to this question:
"What should humanity do, individually and collectively, in order to restore itself to the pathway toward successful civilization?"
There you have it! That is the question that our hero, David Ponder, must answer. He is aided by some of our most notable and historic individuals. Oh yes, and there is one catch- The answer to the question is only two words. This summit of historci figures hav a finite amount of time to answer before God destroys humanity. The stakes are high!
I hope you will join us, beginninf tomorrow as we work our way through Andy's latest work. I loved it and I am hoping that you will benefit from it as much as I have. So, I will here tomorrow. I hope you will as well.
Until Then,
Derek
For any of you who have been following my journey for any length of time know that I am an Andy Andrews fan. His books have changed my life in so many ways. I have also used this blog to share some of his ideas and books with you. I would like to do that once more.
So, over the summer our journey home is going to take us through Andy's Andrews book "The Final Summit". If you have read the book, wonderful!. If you haven't that's OK too! Beginning tomorrow we will begin to share in the challenge that a group of historical have been given - to come up with the answer to this question:
"What should humanity do, individually and collectively, in order to restore itself to the pathway toward successful civilization?"
There you have it! That is the question that our hero, David Ponder, must answer. He is aided by some of our most notable and historic individuals. Oh yes, and there is one catch- The answer to the question is only two words. This summit of historci figures hav a finite amount of time to answer before God destroys humanity. The stakes are high!
I hope you will join us, beginninf tomorrow as we work our way through Andy's latest work. I loved it and I am hoping that you will benefit from it as much as I have. So, I will here tomorrow. I hope you will as well.
Until Then,
Derek
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