What it's all about

"...Jesus said, 'It is finished'.  With that, he bowed His head and gave up His Spirit." (John 19:30)

"'And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself." (John 12:32)

There is no greater mystery, and no greater victory than Jesus Christ being crucified and raised to life.  While the cross formally was known as a brutal and violent humiliation, God made it into the greatest of victories. The wonder of Jesus rising from the grave changes everything!  The power of God was not merely on display through Jesus' death and resurrection.  An unimaginable invitation has been given that beckons us to respond and live differently!  In other words, it isn't just something to marvel at and behold... but it changes us. Paul speaks to this in Ephesians, "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His Holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.  That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms..." (Ephesians 1:18-20).  Because Jesus really did rise from the dead in His body, we have hope, and we know that death has been conquered.  That is a pretty big deal!  I want to share that kind of good news with everyone!  

A lot has happened since we last provided an update.  Erin and I both completed our formal applications for MAF and have our interview scheduled in Nampa, ID in October.  We are excited to have that on the calendar, and were encouraged through the process.  We originally hoped to line up an interview immediately after completing school, but we have peace with this time-table.  Erin is progressing through bible training, and I plan on getting a maintenance job immediately after graduating so I can gain experience before our technical evaluation in the fall.  This semester of school is my last semester, and has been going great.  I was awarded a scholarship from the North Dakota Professional Maintenance Association (which I also got last year).  That is a huge blessing for us, and will more than cover all my certification test fees.  God has been very good to us throughout this program, and has opened up a lot of doors for us along the way. My oral and practical tests will be going on throughout this week, which is a major component to receiving my certificate.  After completing that, all I will have left to do after finishing school for the semester is take the written exams (about a week after graduation).  That time is quickly approaching, and has gone by fast! Thank you to all who have been praying for us and thinking of us throughout this transition in our lives.

Elsie recently got to sing a Hosanna song for Palm Sunday.  She had practiced it for about a month, and seemed pretty excited for the big day.  While most of the other kids timidly staggered out on to the stage, Elsie made her way to the center - where she wildly danced and waved her branch while singing at the top of her lungs.  It was hilarious!  She is growing up fast, and continues to amaze us with her beautiful mind.  She got to ride her big-girl Cinderella princess bike (with no training wheels), and rode just fine on her first try!  We had her get used to a balance bike last spring and summer, but we were amazed at how easily she transitioned to riding her princess bike.

Not long ago, I was proud of her lifting up her head and smiling (instead of crying) during tummy time, and now she is riding a bike without training wheels and telling me how she caught a frog on a walk with Grandma and Grandpa!  I am so abundantly blessed to be her Daddy!

Sammy just turned two years old over the weekend, and is doing awesome!  He loves tractors, airplanes, and guitars, and he wants to learn how to drive.  He is talking constantly and even sings from time to time. His favorite song to sing is either little bunny foo foo, or Jason Aldean's "Big Green Tractor".  It is so much fun watching these two grow up each day!

We are hoping to update this more frequently now that I am almost finished with school, and apologize for such huge gaps in between posts/updates. It is exciting to be almost complete with the basic requirements to be considered for ministry with MAF!  Erin will be working through her bible curriculum through the summer, and we will be seeking to develop a good balance of allowing space for her to get quality time in the Word while I prepare for the technical components of our upcoming interview (flying/maintenance).  Please pray for us as we transition through all those changes, and aim to achieve that delicate balance in our lives.  As we have experienced since we first answered the call God placed on our hearts, God continues to sustain us and direct us through each step of the journey.  When all is said and done, our prayer is that His cross and His Name will be made to increase.  Thank you again to all who continue to follow our progress and lift us up in prayer.  We hope that you all continue to experience the grace and love of our great God!  May He richly bless you in Christ!