Jul
12
Today I celebrate my second year of marriage to by best friend, Michelle.
It’s sort of like a “second New Year.”
We take the time to write each other a letter, reviewing the previous year, and dreaming about the year to come. As many of you readers know, Michelle and I do not taking living lightly! As Thoreau said, we intend to “suck the marrow out of life.” As Scripture says, “to live life to the full.” 
Today I want to share with you the highlights of this past year of marriage. For all you singles who think marriage is for old losers- I hope you’ll come to realize that some of us still know how to party 
We’ve been blessed to live an INSPIRED year.
There are moments in life that MARK us for eternity. They change the course of our lives, and more often than not, we don’t even seen them coming. A total of ZERO milestone events that occurred this year were planned by either of us. I hope this will inspire you to chase the goose.
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Jun
25
Last week Jay and I watched The Dead Poets Society, an inspirational classic about a passionate English teacher who motivates his students to appreciate poetry and live life to the fullest. The teacher, played by Robin Williams, quotes Walt Whitman at one point in the film:
The powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.
This quote has echoed in my mind since then, leading to a barrage of questions. What is the verse that I am contributing to God’s story? If my life was to be summed up in one sentence, as they often are even in the Bible, what would it say? Would it be so ordinary that people skim over it without the slightest vocal emphasis or emotion? Would it create feelings of hope, inspiration, and passion, or ones of frustration, disappointment, and pity? Most importantly, would it be worthy of the God I claim to serve? Would it advance His plot and bring Him glory?
The powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.
What is your contribution?
Michelle
Apr
7
I’m getting really concerned with a common saying. It’s really getting on my nerves. “State of mind.” 
Right now I’m living in a really hippie place. Yoga. Meditations. Kirtons. Yogis. Shamans. Spiritualists. It’s quite strange. It’s been awesome to be the light of Christ here. Like seriously mind-warping. Great conversations. But… Read the rest of this entry »
Mar
8
Around the mid 1900s, Costa Rica got rid of it’s army. A group of peace-loving Quakers liked that, and decided to move here. They settled in the Monte Verde area, where they live to this day.
We happen to be staying at the home of a Quaker. Her name is Deb, and she’s great. I wanted to understand a little bit more of what she believes and practices, so I picked a book off her shelf on the subject. (I’ve finished 3 books in the past 2 days… and am lovin’ it!)
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Feb
23
Read James 4:13-17.
James is saying, in v. 17, that if you are certain of the Lord’s will and that he has called you to something that is good, and you refuse and push his will aside, you are in sin. This is very difficult to swallow. I still struggle with this to this day because on a number of occasion I have heard a clear call from God but I ignored it because it was either too difficult or not in my own planes. Well, when I pushed God away in that circumstance, I am in sin.
I think one of the lessons the author James is pointing out is that we are always in sin. We reek of pride when we think we are not in sin, because even as we are called to follow an instinct we believe to be from God, and we ignore it, we are pushing God away and in sin.
The first good we ought to do is recognize that we are in sin; that we push Jesus away and make ourselves our own god. It’s easy to pursue our own wants, our own things. That’s what makes us human. But Jesus calls us to a higher standard.
Jesus was tempted just as we are; yet in his humanity, he never sinned. In our humanity, we sin all the time. We are broken. We are living with broken hearts. Beat up hearts. That’s is why Jesus came. He came because he knew we needed help. We needed to be rescued from our endless sin. That’s why, as a Christian, someone who has fully accepted Jesus to take over his or her life, they are given this wonderful gift called forgiveness. To recognize our folly and ask for forgiveness is one of the most powerful acts anyone can do. And when we do, Jesus is always there to forgive because he loves unconditionally.
Jesus is sinless, we aren’t. Recognize that your not perfect, you need help, and that this life is not about you. It’s all about Jesus.
For Jesus’ Fame,
JK
Tyler Says:
Popeye-G Says:
July 12th, 2010 at 8:58 pm
Love you bro. Thanks for sharing all this. I thank God for giving you both an adventurous heart and look forward to how he will continue to impact others through you.
Remember: "do adventures not for adventures sake but for Jesus' sake for he defined adventurous in all that He did for you and for us"
For Jesus' fame,
JK
July 12th, 2010 at 11:00 pm
Wow! What a year! Happy Anniversary!!
July 13th, 2010 at 2:41 am
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING!!! Our 'in person' encounters are so few and far between - I so treasure the privilege of getting to read a little about what is going on in your life. What an amazing year it has been! I'm jealous! But a good jealous (if there is one) - reading this just makes me want MORE of GOD in my life!! Happy Happy Anniversary to you two beautiful people!! I want and need to hear the shark story ;0) Love you both so much and miss you like crazy! Can't wait to see you again.
Love,
AUNTIE Nyree
July 13th, 2010 at 2:43 am
Thanks James! We're trying to do both! As Rob Bell says, "our duty is to be as HUMAN as possible!"
July 13th, 2010 at 2:47 am
Auntie Nyree you're making me feel like a lousy "nephew"!!! Love ya.
July 13th, 2010 at 2:50 am
I should also mentioned that while in the jungle, I got pneumonia and Michelle got bronchitis and we both got shots in the butt!