The Tide
Where I grew up, Tom Sawyer did not read like fiction. It mirrored the life of my childhood on the South Slough. I was raised in a small house on three acres surrounded by endless wilderness and water. It cultivated in me an appreciation for the outdoors. It birthed in me the pursuit of adventure and exploration. It has always appeared to me that God unceasingly beckons us to adventure, exploration, and the enjoyment of the beauty of our surroundings. I have often wondered if we are guilty of sin by ignoring this majesty and the peace of God that […]
The Ranch
Life ends in a moment. One false step. One lapse in our attention. One wayward bump in the road and mortality collects its dues. Life and death are determined by fractions of time and distance.
Our close friends are part owners of a 4000-acre ranch in the mountains of Humboldt County. It is not a ranch like you might be thinking of, with flat pastures, barns, and grassy fields. No, this is a hunting ranch intersected by the Mad River with streams, old-growth forests, rugged peaks, valleys, oak stands, grasslands, lots of poison oak, amazing fishing holes, and abundant wildlife including […]
The Cannibal Cave
Cannibalism is a tragic footnote in the history of Fiji. It is a place that has historically been called, “Cannibal Island”. The last documented case of cannibalism took place in 1867 when a 35-year-old missionary named Thomas Baker made a cultural blunder and tapped a chief’s head with his hand. He and seven Christian companions paid the ultimate price for his mistake. The village responsible for this atrocity has been trying to lift a curse that fell upon them, ever since. Fijians say that the practice of cannibalism has ceased since that event.
When researching activities to do while in Fiji, […]
Gain perspective, and hope today!
Is God shocked by what is going on? I don’t think so. He is the God of History, the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.
Forgiveness
Here is last week’s service and a message on “forgiveness”. How do we forgive? How often? What does it mean to forgive?
- Have you ever had a debt forgiven? If so, what was it like?
- What makes it difficult for a person to forgive themselves?
- Describe someone who has demonstrated the amazing ability to forgive.
- How could forgiveness bring healing to our nation right now?
- Privately identify any points of unforgiveness that you’ve been struggling to let go of. Prayerfully give those situations and people over to the Lord.
Tying the Knot
One year after my failed attempt to climb Mount Rainier, I received a phone call from Uli and his fiancé Trish: “Hi Matt. We were wondering if you would be willing to officiate our wedding?” Uli asked, with Trish also on the line.
Truly, I love this couple. We spent countless hours training and competing together. They are friends, great athletes, and good human beings. I felt honored by their request. I also was excited to hear that they wanted to take this next step in their relationship.
“Thank you for asking. That would be an honor. Absolutely. I would love to! […]