News & Updates

    (read Mark 15-16; 1-4; and finished “Beautiful Outlaw” by John Eldredge)     In the re-creation of the world, when the Son of Man will rule gloriously, you who have followed me will also rule, starting with the twelve tribes of Israel. And not only you, but anyone who sacrifices home, family, fields—whatever—because of me will get it all back a hundred times over, not to mention the considerable bonus of eternal life. This is the Great Reversal:…

Read Mark 14;  45% of “Beautiful Outlaw” by John Eldredge) “Think of the ocean. Picture it in your mind. Tonight the breakers are thundering on the reef a hundred yards out, and beyond that open ocean. What does this tell us about Jesus? What words come to mind? Majestic, powerful, wild, dangerous. Yes, tempestuous, like the clearing of the temple. “His eyes like the grey o’ the sea,” as Ezra Pound wrote, “the sea that brooks no voyaging.” But also…

(Read Mark 12 & 13;  Finished “Simply Jesus” by N.T. Wright) After a complete rain out yesterday (studying and reading from the lanai), this morning is beautiful.  The rains have cleared, but my mind hasn’t.  I’m swimming a bit in my thoughts. In the nine previous study break experiences my family has been on, I’ve begun to capture vision, strategy, and the “do” of what life and ministry might look like once back into real life.  Usually, my second week…

(Read Mark 9-11; 73% through “Simply Jesus” by N.T. Wright) In the early morning hours, I saw a man walking on water.  I was reading through Mark 6.  However, when I looked up from my wind-blown scriptures, there really was a guy walking past me on the ocean water!  At least in a brief second, it seemed that way.  When a deceptive wave had subsided, I could see that this was a mere paddle surfer.  Shoot.  I thought the scripture…

(read MarK 4 – 8; 36% of “Simply Jesus” by N.T. Wright) If shade is the goal of using a beach umbrella, the rules for effectiveness are necessary.  Tilting into the wind ensures stability.  Positioning your chair in the subsequent diameter of shade is crucial.  Repositioning your chair with changing sun coordinates is an ongoing mandate.  Attempting to use the umbrella when said sun is lower than the actual umbrella itself is futile.  It’s a lot of work, and there…

(read Mark 2 & 3; finished “The Explicit Gospel” by Matt Chandler) A public beach seems anything but.  It’s an oxymoron; a complete contradiction of terms.  What I see some people wearing at the beach is not what they would wear anytime, anywhere, and any place called public.  That’s a good thing.  How do loving family members turn a blind eye to such fashion.  What kind of friend actually says, “Oh, that looks good on you.” Prosperity gospel is another…

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] (read Mark 1 and first half of “The Explicit Gospel” by Matt Chandler) Last night we walked to a native drum circle just up the beach.   This wild and wooly sight unfolds every Sunday night just as the sun is sinking into the Gulf.  It’s a sight to see, and my kids won’t miss it.  Some…

This past Thursday night we finished off a week-long celebration of Lauren’s (my second born) high school graduation.  It was the official ceremony for Lauren receiving her diploma.  For lots of reasons, we were anxious to get this one in the books.  Primary on our list was leaving for study break the following morning.  Secretly, I had already gone into study break mode a few days earlier. I always want to hear Jesus on my study break.  That really is…

We didn’t “Face Our Fears” last night.  The lack of enthusiasm was disguised as sleepiness, but I know better.  I’m told we’ll face our fears tonight, with this being our last available night to do so. Who knew intentional displacement was so hard?  Sherry would even attach  words like suffering and death as her children and husband plunge their tenderized, baked bodies into a dark ocean where sharks and giant squids have caught wind of our aspirations.  All I can…

I think they call it intentional displacement.  Seems like I read about this somewhere recently.  Getting out of your comfortable life rut, and displacing yourself into a circumstance where something is bound to happen is the goal.  We did it last night, and we’ll do it again tonight. Our annual midnight breakfast was last night.  At 12:20 a.m. the Scott family was ordering from a Denny’s menu.  We’ve always had so much fun with these.  Last night was no exception…