January in the Branch House

“And now let us believe in a long year that is given to us,

 new, untouched, full of things that have never been.” 

― Rainer Maria Rilke

January was filled with many special blessings.

Becca, Jake (honorary member), Rachael, Mark, Karelin, Steph, and Andrew

My first-born daughter, Steph, came home for a short visit.  We spent some precious family time together for nine days.  We were able to squeeze in a bridal shower, beach days, and take some family pictures.  The next time we see her, we'll be in Portland for her wedding.  The March wedding day is fast approaching and my to-do list is long, but God has paved the way and His hand is on every detail.

The girls, back together before the bridal shower!

Beautiful morning at the beach before heading to the airport. *sniff*

The house continues to be a gathering place for young adults.  Our small group is growing every week and the beds and couches are always full of guests!

"Mama T" and "Mama J" - as we've been named

One of our guests was Danielle Teeter, a sweet woman from Kauai.  She is involved in a new retreat center that plans to run amazing camps and other events through the summer for teens.  She invited us to come over in May for a worship retreat.  So excited!  I know God has big plans for this special place, and is doing an amazing work through her ministry.  It is such a blessing to meet other like-minded people who love Jesus and are living all-out for Him. I loved hearing about her family. We have a lot in common.  It was great to meet a new friend.  She was just here overnight, but in the morning we took a fun hike up to the Lanikai Pillboxes.  We both think each other's island is the prettiest...

new sleeping loft

The community is growing closer every day.  We were able to build a sleeping loft in the studio to give Morgan and Tasha more private space.  We spent Superbowl Sunday (which was Morgan's birthday) together, projecting he game on the wall.  So much fun!

Building crew after a day's work

Football! (Note: people in photo are more excited than they appear.)

Training has begun for our fundraising half marathon and relay run.  The Kailua Nazarene Church will be going on a mission trip to Peru in July.  It's an expensive trip, so funds must be raised.  Mark and a few others will be running the 13.1 miles, and we are putting together several relay teams to share the miles.  Community racing!  I will share more about the trip as the details are available.

Yesterday, the gang took a quick hike up to the Pali lookout.  Up the ridge, there is a spot we call the Pali Puka (hole) where you can see through the mountain face.  It's a pretty scary hike (so I stayed home...) but they say the view is worth it.  Maybe I'll get the nerve to go the next time.

The girls on the way up!

Yeah, this is why I stayed home!

View from the top - that's the Pali Highway. See the dirt path on the edge?

The peak of the Pali

The Puka!

The famous Pali hair shot!

As I start this new year, I think a word that has been planted in my heart is hope.  Hope is the expectation of good.  I don't now exactly what will happen, but I know that my God is good, and His plan is good.  I heard a message by Kris Vallotton of Bethel Church recently say, "Faith sees, hope feels, and love never fails."  I love that.  Faith sees what will be before it is.  Hope feels expectation for good before it is known.  Love never fails even when it is not deserved.  He went on to say, "Hope gets you off the couch and onto the porch..."  That is so true.  We must live with an expectation of good in order to move on to a life of faith.  I can't see what God is doing yet, I just know He is always working for my good.  That is hope.  I've just begun to explore what this will mean for our year, but I know I wont be disappointed.

View from the Lanikai Pillboxes -  Yes, I did take this one!

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully 

look forward to sharing God’s glory.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our 

confident hope of salvation.  

And this hope will not lead to disappointment. 

For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Romans 5:1-5 NLT

My prayer for you is that you be filled with hope in 2013!  You wont be disappointed when your hope is in Jesus!

Pacesetter...Moi?

Had a beautiful run this morning.  The rain had just passed through and the air was clean and fresh.  With Rachael's driver's ed. class forcing me to get up and out three mornings a week, my road running has improved. 

Since I posted about finding that pacesetter, I keep coming back to that image.  While I run, even though there is no one a head of me, I can imagine those feet and see the pace.  I don't have to have a physical pacesetter, in my mind's eye, I can see them.  It has improved my time.  I don't start out too fast and use up all my energy.  It helps me run more and walk less. 

I passed a man on the street today.  He looked like the "old coach" type of guy.  He actually commented as I went by him, "Nice pace, real comfortable."   I thought, "Yes, it is comfortable.  I could run a long time at this pace..." 

A little further on, I passed a woman running just a bit slower than I was.  (yes, I can actually pass people...)  I began to wonder if I might be a pacesetter for her.  Not that I'm such a super-star runner.  But I know how much I was helped by a passing runner. 

It got me thinking.  Isn't that how our journey with Christ is supposed to be.  We find a pacesetter for us, Jesus and others, and we also become a pacesetter.  Paul repeatedly talks about running the race in his letters to the churches.  He set an example for us to pursue Christ at all costs.  Paul new that he hadn't "arrived" to perfection, but that didn't stop him from urging them (and us) to imitate him. 

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead...

Philippians 3:13 NIV



...For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you. 

So I urge you to imitate me.

I Corinthians 1:15-16 NLT

Before my come-back to road running, I was content to run on my treadmill.  It was enough to keep me going.  I could mark off a few miles a week and not feel too guilty.  How many years of my Christian life have I been content to run my own private race?  It's enough for me to get by, but that's not what Jesus commanded as He left this planet.  He said, "Go and make disciples of all nations..."  If I'm not running my race as a pacesetter, who will come after me?  How will I obey this command?  I'm coming to the strong conviction that this journey is not to be lived in isolation.  There is no "plan B" for reaching the world.  I am a part of it and I have a role to play. 

As I was coming back to my starting point, I passed the same lady again.   This time as I passed her, she was walking.  I'll never know if I was a pacesetter for her, but when I was finally at my car, I saw her a third time.  But this time she continued past me - running.

Do you have someone who can set the pace for you?  Are you setting the pace for someone else.  The truth is, people are watching us.  What kind of pace will we set?

I needed a pacesetter

This morning I took a run along a beautiful beach-side road.  It was a gorgeous morning.  The sun was shining, a gentle breeze was blowing, and I was so glad to be outside.  I love to run while listening to my ipod.  Music really helps me keep my mind off the pain...  Unfortunately, I didn't have it today.  I found myself distracted by the sound of my own feet.  (I kept looking behind me to see who was following me - blond moments...)  I didn't have the music to make the miles go by a bit faster.  I found myself reaching the end of my energy before the end of my route back to the car.  I kept stopping to walk.  I had just reached my turn-around point when another runner glided by me.  She was about my age, very tall and slender, and was keeping a steady, manageable pace.  I decided to match her, step by step, to see if I could keep up.  I glued my eyes to her feet and fell in about 50 feet behind her.  Wow!  What a difference it made.  The pace was just perfect for me.  The ground that had taken me over 5 minutes to cover only took me 4 when I kept in step with her.  Then I felt the nudge of the Holy Spirit speaking to me.  "That's how I want you to be with Me."  He longs to set the pace if I'll just fall in step behind Him.

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?

Come to me.

Get away with me and you'll recover your life.

I'll show you how to take a real rest.

Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it.

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.

I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.

Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

- Jesus, Mt. 11:28-29, The Message

Yes, Lord,  I hear.  Thanks for reminding me.

"Do not despise these small beginnings..."

I love this verse from Zechariah 4:10. It reminds me that my God, my Abba, "rejoices to see the work begin." No, I'm not rebuilding the Temple, but this is my intrepid attempt at starting something new. I've been so inspired by other blogs I've read, that I want to try one for myself. I did have a blog for the happenings of my family, but I didn't keep it up. I hope to be better at this one.

I hope to write a little bit everyday, or almost everyday about things that are happening in my life. It can get pretty crazy around my house. I've been married to (and am totally in love with) my high school sweetheart for 22 years. I have four amazing kids: girls 17, 15, and 13, and a boy that's 9. Yeah, three teenage girls. I home school all 4 of them. I lead worship at my church. I love to run to clear my head and try to quiet myself before the Lord. I live in the most beautiful place in the world - the Windward side of Oahu, Hawaii. I adore my 3 year old Bi-blue Sheltie. That's enough for now. As the days go by, I'll fill you in on other facets of my life.

If you are looking for a blog from someone who has it all together, you'd better just hit your back button. - this ain't it! I seem to learn best by trial and error. I'll just share what I've learned along the way. Perhaps it will encourage you and show you that most mistakes aren't fatal. Wisdom is learning from someone else's' mistakes, right?