Under Two weeks...

We leave in 13 days... Crazy!

We are big time finishing the packing details this week and would love your prayers...

THANKS!!!

Humble me...

What a great, er, grace word by Tim Keller I just read this morning on humility... Please, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and click on this link... You will be rewarded joyfully.

Click on this link!

21 days in counting...

We just wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas. I sit here with my wife on this snowy and quiet evening contemplating and thinking through the next 21 days... It is beyond surreal that we are going to be leaving for Zambia in just three short weeks... We thank you for remembering us during these remaining days. Our time home has been both a blessing for all the opportunity to minister and be ministered to, but it also has been confirming, assuring us with confidence that our time in Zambia is not yet over and we are excited to get back. We wanted to communicate our schedule again and especially let you know of one change* to the schedule that will/may affect our Bellevue friends...

Here is the formal schedule (weather pending):

December 24 - Attending Crossroads Bible Church Christmas Eve service

December 28 - Preaching at Northlake in the morning

* Steve's preaching at the Downtown Church has been moved to January 4 because of the weather (see below)

January 4 - Preaching at Northlake in the morning

- Preaching at Downtown Church (the Church plant of Crossroads Bible Church) in the evening and Johanna will be dedicated at this service.

January 11 - Attending Crossroads Bible Church

- Leaving at 6:10pm for Zambia.

Garbage Day + Snow = Happiness

I have a confession to make. I love Fridays. But, not because of why you think. I love Fridays because Friday is garbage day. And, I really like taking out the garbage. There is something deeply satisfying about taking out a full garbage full of junk and trash and smelly stuff and then to have someone come and take it away. It is just a wonderful weekly reminder of the beauty of forgiveness and repentance. We take our junk to God and He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I was reading a book today called "How People Change" and he brought up a good point about the importance of repentance. He said, "Repentance is a form of emptying the heart." He then went on to explain how this works by quoting the verse in James 4: 1 "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?" He said that the desires that are within us need to be emptied so that the Holy Spirit can have full access and control in our life. We need to believe as Romans 3:10-17 says is that their is no good in us, that our tongues and our hands and our lives are bent toward doing evil. And, God has given us such an amazing gift that we can empty our sin and be replaced with his righteousness. The more we understand his holiness, the more we want to be like God. But, when we are not, we can come to him, pour out our sins and he takes it away, every day, any minute, and not just once a week. I am looking out at world that is covered in snow, and it is so beautiful. May this verse be a reminder to us: Isaiah 1:18 - “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool." May we receive this gift and may we give it to others, forgiving them as God in Christ has forgiven us.

Satisfied...

Psalm 90:14 (NIV)
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

I found this picture as I was going through all our 2008 pictures to try and get a photo book done before we leave. I was just struck by the serenity and the beauty of this picture. It was taken early, before my kids had awoken and the day had begun. I was able to just be quiet before the Lord that morning. As I look ahead to Zambia, I love this idea of being satisfied in the love of the Lord, whether it be looking out at Puget Sound in Washington or the wall around our house in Zambia. May His love alone satisfy and may it lead us to singing and gladness despite whatever our days may hold.

A month away...

It is crazy that we are a month away from leaving for Zambia and enjoying Christmas as we can... We are in the buying and packing mode, hoping to get it all done by Christmas so we can ENJOY what is left of the Christmas season. I have a bit of a break from speaking until December 28 which is perfect timing to begin to prepare to leave. Thanks for all the prayer for the speaking opportunities... The most recent one that I did at Northview Church in Canada has both an audio and video version... Yep, you can see me on TV:) Here is the link if you dare: Northview

Thanks!!!

A new year and a new start...

Looking for a read through the bible program for the new year... Look no further than this link here at Bible Gateway.com for a 4different tracks that can be done online or printed out... Now is the time to being planning for a new year and a new start!!!! I am excited for a new year and a new change to grow in the Word!

Sharing the ministry...

We have been pretty busy these days preparing for Zambia. I have had a lot of fun sharing the ministry with a variety of groups this past week. I say I because of having some sick kids this past week, so we has mostly become I much to 'I's dismay. I shared our ministry with a couple of groups in Idaho this past weekend and then came back to Bellevue and we shared with some supporters. I then shared with a home fellowship group of believers from India. I am preaching this weekend in Canada and then we will have about three weeks to pack before Christmas. Thanks for keeping us in your prayers as we prepare to head back to Zambia.