Some Summer Shots
Phil and Rea got married this summer (3 times!). Here's the wedding party on the lawn of Garden Vineyards outside of Portland.
Our college student and friend Hattan with his mom, sister and host parents (Dan and Erin).
Erin and Dan in Dodoma with Joseph Deus - one of the Lahash sponsored kids.
Little Kingdoms
I recently have been enjoying
John Ortberg's thoughts both in print and online. His book The Life You've Always Wanted has chapter after chapter of good solid advice for living a full life for Christ in the Kingdom. But something he mentioned online really resonated with me.
He was talking on a panel of speakers and mentioned that each of us has been given dominion - we each have been created in God's image and so own a small kingdom that we are responsible for. We all have relationships, responsibilities, gifts, time, and resources.
I think I've had a hard time understanding this in life. Early on (in grade school and high school) I just neglected my "kingdom" - did a poor job at managing the things in my life. During college as I read about Jesus I found that he preached a message of the Kingdom of God - a vast, international, eternal, network of people and beings that loved God and their neighbors and enemies.
Suddenly I jumped from poorly managing my Kingdom to trying to manage the whole Kingdom of God.
As I traveled in East Africa this past year it was clear to me that my abilities and reach were limited (thank God for that). I am not responsible for the salvation, care, and hope of the world. I am part of a team of followers of Christ and we all have responsibilities or kingdoms that we are called to rule and take care of.
Thankfully this epiphany was given to me and I feel like I have a second wind right now. I want to understand the simple responsibilities that God has called me into and then do those really well.
Prepare for a streamlined Dan.
