Honey Rock Camp

It's hard to believe, but this time 12 years ago (Fall of '95) Heather was preparing to leave for her semester studying at Honey Rock Camp up here in the great Northwoods!  Honey Rock is the Northwoods campus of Wheaton College.  We had the enjoyable time of driving over to the camp this morning to "stroll down memory lane" and show the girls around.  Very surreal for Heather.  I've added a few pics from our little camp visit under "Eagle River"--the girls saw where Heather lived, studied and hung out.  It was a fun morning.

We definitely feel old though.  Can't believe college was that long ago.  Weird.

Eagle River Update

Still having a great time in the Northwoods, although little Mackinley is a bit under the weather.

UPDATE: Mackinley is feeling much better and actually got in the lake yesterday!  New pics have been added to Eagle River (Friday, July 27)

 

Wildlife update:  Saw a Bald Eagle yesterday right off the boat house.  Very cool. 

Book update:  reading The Emotionally Healthy Chuch...been very challenging.  The guy is very honest about his struggles in ministry and how he finally started getting healthy.  I'm thankful for books like this as we head into the next season of ministry, that will be full of new challenges.  The book tries to bring some balance to Orthodoxy (right belief), Orthopraxis (right action) and Orthpathos (right emotions).  He argues that Evangelicalism emphasizes the first 2 to the detriment of the 3rd.  It's all about triads (i.e. John Frame).

Picture update: New pics have been added under "Eagle River"

That's all for now, as Sydnie is tearing up the coffee shop we are in.  Dad has been on the computer too long.  What's new.

Peace.

Greetings from the Northwoods

Well we made it all the way up to Eagle River, WI yesterday.  The girls did remarkably well on the plane, with only a minor meltdown by Mackinley.  This place is absolutely beautiful.  Very remote.  We are staying in this little 2 bedroom cottage on Sunset Lake.  I've posted some pics in the "Eagle River" photo album.  Not many people shots (yet).  This is our final trip before beginning the church planting apprenticeship.  It has been so nice to have a mini-sabbatical during the month of July.  Very needed.  Very relaxing. 

Related trip aside...we told Sydnie we might see a bear up here, not thinking it would actually happen.  Sure enough, a black bear ran out in front of our rental van yesterday enroute to the house.  Really cool.  Nice to be in the car though. 

I'll try to post more throughout the week.  Peace.

'Church Squared' 2007

Interesting article by Ed Stetzer.

Link: 'Church Squared' 2007.

New Pics

Just fyi, two new photo albums have been added. 

June 2007

July 2007

Back in Boone

Since Heather and I will be celebrating our 10 year anniversary on the same day as Mackinley's first birthday, while also starting our new apprenticeship role, we decided to party a little early.  Though we thought of being more creative, we instead opted for familiarity and headed up to Boone, NC yesterday.  Yesterday was definitely weird for both of us, since we don't have the kids.  We have completely forgotten what it is like to not have them.  We obviously miss them, but it has been a nice change of pace with just the two of us.  We feel like we have all this time on our hands.  No nap schedules.  No set meal times.  It's 5:30 right now and we're at a coffee shop, and we don't have to leave at any set time. 

We did a great Grandfather Mountain hike this morning.  It was a new one for us and it was beautiful.  We also had one of the most amazing sunsets last night off the deck.  Check them out below.  More than anything it is great to spend this time with Heather.  We love and miss our kids but we also know this time together has to be part of the rhythm of our life together.  It's been so fun just talking and dreaming together as we head into this next chapter of our story together.  Pretty cool.  Very thankful for Heather.  She's amazing.

Eavesdropping

Whilst pretending to be hacking away at my computer, with headphones on, I listened in on some Starbucks employee training.  It is fascinating to me.  Good on so  many levels.  The woman passionately shared the core values of the company.  She knew why they did what they did.  She felt an ownership.  She seemed to live and breath this stuff.  It seemed like more than a job.  She spoke highly of the leadership, particularly the founder.  She expressed a sense of responsibility, even when she was off-duty or at another Starbucks.  She spoke affectionately about her regular customers.  She seemed to take nothing for granted.  Very intentional in their employee development.  Told the new employee they were not in the coffee business, but the people business and had stories to back that up.  Meaningful experiences matter.  They want Starbucks to be the highlight of someone's day.  They know they are being watched as members of the community, and try to set a high standard outside of work. 

There is so much I can learn from overhearing that conversation.  I can only hope that our new church embodies much of what I "heard" yesterday.