First Camp

We had our first official camping trip this weekend. . .finally!!!! We attempted a trip a few weekends ago, but the spot we chose was so over-run with dip-netters, we could not find a free spot to save our lives! But, this trip was successful. We went to Eklutna Lake and found, actually, the last open spot at the camp ground we chose, so that was a blessing. It was only Friday night as we had plans in Anchorage Saturday evening, but it was a good opening to the camping season! We borrowed a friend's canoe and Jenn and Jeremy went out on the lake early Saturday morning (I chose to sleep in). I will post one of Jenn's pictures of the lake later. Wish more of you were here to share these adventures!!!

New Insight

I learned tonight how many times you can read one Scripture verse over and over your entire life and then in one moment, whether you hear a sermon, or read a commentary and suddenly it takes on a whole new meaning. Tonight was our first night having a small group meeting in our home. We are listening to a year long audio series "Walk through Hebrews" by Dr. James MacDonald. Tonight's sermon was just on the first 3 verses of Hebrews Chapter one. I took pages of notes, but the one thing that was totally new insight for me were the words at the end of verse 3 "and he sat down at the right hand of God" (paraphrase). "Sat down". No big deal, I've read it or heard it read to me a thousand times. What I didn't realize and that Dr. MacDonald pointed out, in the Old Testement in the temple, the high priest never sat down. Actually, there were not any chairs for the high priest to sit down even if he wanted to. The reason for that was because the shedding of the blood of an animal under the Old Convenant for the forgiveness of sin was never complete; it was a continual thing, done over and over on behalf of person after person. So, after giving His life, His BLOOD for us as a sacrifice, for Christ as the High Priest to SIT DOWN means the job is DONE! Finished! A one time sacrifice for ALL for ALL TIME! No more religious rituals, the price has been paid, the work is done - PERIOD. Sanctification - now that of course is another story entirely - but the shedding of blood to cleanse us of our sins is a done deal and for that, I give GLORY to GOD!!!

New Friends

One of the most enjoyable part of our trip to Portland was being able to hang out and have fellowship with people. Here are at Rock Bottom in Portland; had an AWESOME burger!! LTR, Mandy and Eli Stewart, Jenn, Jeremy and I. It was great listening to all that God is doing through them in their ministry and to just fellowship! Jenn is coming back here for the summer, which I am absolutely excited about!

Catch up

So, I didn't realize how long it had been since we posted anything!! So much has happened in the last weeks! We took a trip to Haines to pick up Kendra's car, which was a lot of fun. I had never done that trip, so it was interesting to see all that is between here and there.

We just got back from a one week trip to Portland/Seattle. Matt and Janae got married on May 28th. It was a lot of fun to be with family and to reconnect with some old friends and to make some new ones! After the wedding we were able to spend a few days in Seattle with Becky and Stew, which was a wonderful time. It was SOOOOO hard to leave.

Now that we're back in Anchorage, we're settling into summer, which is FINALLY arrived! We'll be starting a study by James MacDonald through Hebrews, which we are greatly looking forward to. It is exciting to see God working!!!

Here are a few pictures from the wedding weekend. Seeing as Jeremy and I were both IN the wedding, I do not have any pictures from the ceremony itself. We're so very glad to have Janae and Cheila as part of the family!!!