Summer has officially begun around the Gregory house. This means oldest boys are working many days and the others are working around the house as much as we can find for them. The pace of life has changed for a brief time. Its also the time when I can get to Julee’s honey-do list that has been growing through the winter and early spring.
So the cedar siding on the house has been painted (while I was out of town), the new fence has been stained, the sprinkler system has been repaired, the leak in the upstairs shower has been stopped ( I think. Redoing this bathroom may be next summer’s first project. It would be a nice feeling to know that the shower is not leaking onto the first floor ceiling and would be even nicer to sheetrock the first floor ceiling knowing this.), and the back patio has a nice flagstone paved area on one end (the house came with an endless supply of native red flagstone buried all around the yard).
Summer challenge has started and we have been following a study called ‘Operation Worldview’. This study looks at how God is about His glory being revealed to the nations and how we fit into that story. We have had a great time!
Our trip to SE Asia is only weeks away now and we are growing more excited. We still need about $2000 to cover trip expenses and so are a little anxious as well. We have been learning a way of sharing the story of the Bible from creation all the way to Christ and His death to pay the penalty of our sin and it has been fun to sit down as a family to do this. Please be praying.
In 2006, our family had the opportunity to lead a mission trip to Oberlin, LA, contribute to the rebuilding of
First Baptist Church and begin some encouraging relationships.God used that trip to not only reestablish a place for community in Oberlin, but also to establish a heart for people in our family and a desire to be part of what He is doing in the world and to explain Him to the world.Of course, the main expression of this heart and desire takes place in our sharing our lives with college students at CU, ASU before that, and OU before that.
As a continuation of this desire, we have been preparing as a family for a trip to SE Asia.A former student and his family are now serving full-time among students in this country.They have seen God draw many students to Himself and have their hands full.Several people have spent the last two years laboring alongside them and are in their last days and months of service.
We will be spending around 7-9 days in country.During this time we will travel with a group of students who are involved in the ministry with the purpose of speaking into their lives and discipling them as we are able.We will also be working at an orphanage alongside a mix of Christian and non-Christian students.Our friend there says that this has been a very effective way of seeing new students move to accept Christ.Another goal would also be to encourage and pray for our friends and the ministry God has given them.
Finally, we hope to work out the timing so that we can travel to another SE Asian country close by and spend a day or two with a former associate and his family and our summer team from CU and then join them for the trip home.This last hope is still very tentative, but is on our prayer list.
The tentative dates for this trip are July 12-21.Our estimated cost is $15,014.We would like to invite and ask you to pray about partnering with us financially and prayerfully for this trip.An undertaking of this size is far bigger than us and we would value anyway you can be part of this with us.Contributions for this trip can be made to Christian Challenge and will be a missions contribution as this trip is part of our summer missions program.Please send to 167 Cherokee Way, Boulder, CO 80303.
Zach turned 12 yesterday and that means it was an important day in the Gregory tribe. Years ago we borrowed the idea of a bar berith (son of the covenant) party from our friends, the Fosters. This is not your normal birthday party, but is a special time where family and friends gather to encourage the young boy or girl (a bat berith) in their transition into young manhood or womanhood. It is also a time to charge them to not make life about themselves, but about serving the redemptive purposes of God.
It is important for us as parents to provide some transitional times in our kids lives to help them move along. It is maybe more important for us to help them realize that life is not about them. This party does both and is cool because it includes our extended family and our community. It encouraged Zach and also provided him with a lot of accountability. We don’t do a whole lot real well, but this bar berith sure seems to be a good thing. Each of our children has looked forward to their 12th birthday like no other and remember it like no other (even though I even ask them to memorize a portion of Scripture and recite it to everyone. Zach had Psalm 1).
This also provides a great excuse to buy our sons some really cool swords. These only have symbolic significance of course. (with all apologies to the nice cactus we had in AZ) The sharp edges just give us a chance to talk about being a useful tool in God’s hands (and safety).
If you would ever like to know more about this kind of thing feel free to give us a call.
Just arrived in Oklahoma to see our families over the Christmas break. This was due to the good hand of God on us. Our van was having some issues, yet we made the trip as well and as quick as ever. We know a Ford guy here who can take care of our issues. He is a fellow follower and is a great guy and mechanic. He also calls square dances and drives a Harley.
I was up until 2:30 last night grouting the tile. So now we have a floor back in the kitchen. Yeah! That means I can get the cabinets installed and we can move the things that go in the cabinets out of the garage and into the kitchen. Yeah!! It also means we can have a sink in the kitchen and bring in the dishwasher from the back porch and not wash dishes in the bathroom anymore. Yeah!!!
So all this started when we thought a construction crew was coming. We started getting things ready for them so they could open up our kitchen/dining/living room areas. This was driven by the need for good ministry space.
Well, the construction crew didn’t come and so we became the construction crew. It is not good timing for such things, since we have been in the middle of a semester, but the damage had been done. So things get done during free moments - of which there are not many. I won’t quite make the thanksgiving deadline, but should be almost there. maybe all but the countertops.
If you need any thoughts on kitchen stuff, I might have some.
During some family time yesterday morning, we were talking about 2 Kings 9 and the fate of Jezebel. We decided that it would be better to be on God’s side than to oppose Him. It reminded us of an old classic message which includes this story. You can find and listen to it here.
On another note, Zach and Hudson had to have a little dental work yesterday. Zach had some molars sealed and when I asked how it went he had this to say - “It was like having 5 people working in my mouth at once.” Ouch! Sorry about that Z.
Today we celebrate Josh’s 15th birthday. It should be a lot of fun, especially with the fireworks the city of Boulder will be displaying for him (at least thats what we tell him). He quit believing us a long time ago.
Next week Julee and I will speak with students at a training program thats taking place in Denver. That should be a lot of fun also.
The window is closer to completion. The window itself is in now, just having to make modifications in order to install some structural steel. You should see the 1/2 inch concrete screws we are using - Tim the tool man would be proud. We could screw whole houses together with these things.
Continue to pray for our team in South Asia. They have continued to see fruit from their labor and God has been teaching them deep things. Our challenge is to shepherd them so that the things they are learning stick and to help them process all that has happened this summer. Also our good friends who were on staff here at Challenge will be moving there on July 10, so they would appreciate your prayers for their challenging transition.
We will be receiving many freshman contacts soon and will begin the process of connecting with them. Please lift up these freshman whom we don’t know - yet - that God will encourage their hearts and connect them even closer to us and Him over next year.
When will it end? We began a ‘little’ summer project two weeks ago - installing an egress window in a basement bedroom (I’ve never used this term before moving to Boulder, but its a big basement window that allows for escape in case of a fire, or late night Taco Bell runs). Here we are two weeks later and only a little closer to completion.
It all started with a mini-excavator rental (actually it started before that, but the fun part started here). This was the easy and fun part. Everyone should get to dig with one of these. Then I put my strong sons in the hole for a little hand digging to finish it out. (if they hadn’t gone to camp they could have had fun with the excavator also. Oh well)
Now for the really fun part. Cutting through an 8 inch thick foundation wall. How does one do that? Call the professionals you say? Not so quick. With a chain saw! Yes, a chain saw. Don’t worry, its made for cutting concrete. Well, on the first cut the chain broke. Then the wait began. After almost 2 weeks waiting for a new chain I gave in and called in the professionals. He came yesterday to take care of this issue and after looking over the job declared “I can’t do it”. Of course.
So what does one do then? One relies on a friend who locates a little known rental place that has a - concrete chain saw. And three hours and gallons and gallons and gallons and gallons of water later your hole will be cut.
So this morning I contemplate the next phase - getting a 6 foot by 4 foot piece of 8 inch thick concrete out of the hole - and greeting whatever new issue threatens our inner peace and tranquility.
This is the very brief version, but its been a great example of the proverb:
“If its not one thing, its another.”
I haven’t found this in the Bible yet, but all truth is God’s truth and this seems to be true. But praise God for concrete chain saws, friends who can find one, mini excavators, Christian Challenge directors who live down the street who are installing windows also and can split the cost, strong sons, and lovingkindness that is new every morning. And that last one is in the Bible and is a truth to rest on.
I hope no one has been holding their breath in eager expectation for the next blog. If so and you are reading this, you might want to contact Guinness Book. I not sure, but I think you might have done something big.
As for us, we haven’t been holding our breath, but doing what we do after school ends: a wedding, a two-week road trip family vacation (a little longer than usual, but what a great time. And when is the last time you ate fresh grouper throat just pulled from the Gulf?), starting some projects that we can’t do in the fuller flow of ministry (an egress window in a basement bedroom is the big one now), sending off summer teams, and starting up summer ministry.
We have a team of 7 in South Asia for the summer. Please be praying for them as they are sowing a lot of seed and helping with some church planting. They are also way hotter than they are used to in Colorado, so pray they can maintain good attitudes amidst the oppressive heat and spiritual climate.
There are also 9 at a training program in Denver. They are working full time jobs during the week and involved with small groups, training, and service during the evenings and weekends. The entire group spent a Saturday at our house and the Pruett’s house working on various projects. The goal was to wear them out and that we did. This is a valuable part of training as it displays character which students have. You can see who works hard and who hardly works. You can also teach some good skills and show what hard work looks like. Three small groups even came back the next week for more glorious hard work.
We also just added a hamster to the family. Pretty exciting.
