Review of The Pictorial Library of Bible Lands by Todd Bolen

The new and revised 18-volume Pictorial Library of Bible Lands by Todd Bolen is a landmark achievement. These volumes contain more than 17,500 high-resolution photos of the lands and islands, sites and landscapes, roads and ruins, digs and artifacts, cultures and climates of the Bible. The vantage points vary from aerial to close-up to panoramic. Lighting, weather, season, … More Review of The Pictorial Library of Bible Lands by Todd Bolen

The Incredible Journey

Three weeks ago, we were packing up the last of our belongings, saying final goodbyes to friends and co-workers and church family, madly finishing up projects to prepare for the new Dean, and preparing for our cross-country move into the next season of our lives.  Three weeks from now, I’ll be exploring a brand new … More The Incredible Journey

Gunner at GAP

There are some things you just never dream of doing.  There are other things that you’ll only do if opportunity beats down your door with a sledgehammer.  And sometimes both kinds of things hit you all at once. So what happens when you combine the cost of living in Southern California, the upcoming bill for a … More Gunner at GAP

Thanks, Mom

Mother’s Day is a travesty.  Like setting aside one single solitary day to memorialize our fallen soldiers who give their short lives for our lifelong freedom, we’ve set aside one single solitary day to celebrate our mothers who give the incalculable gift of their life and love to their children. Not that any mother will … More Thanks, Mom

Men at Work

The men below form the team that God has brought to The Master’s College dormitories to oversee, love, care for, instruct, disciple, counsel, challenge, and train the next generation of the church’s men.  On either side of me are the four male Resident Directors I’ve served with this year, men of character, passion, humility, integrity, … More Men at Work

A Few Good Men

This past year, four tremendous guys served with me in leading the OMC.  Juan Moncayo, Nate Brooks, Cameron Knox, and Peter Bugbee.  Fellow OMC’er Cole Jeffrey, who has the “It” factor in photography, took the picture (and many others).

Yosemite National Park

Last year I climbed Half-Dome in Yosemite National Park with the four-man team of guy RDs.  This past week we made a longer return trip (minus Siona and plus Joe) for our last hurrah as a team since two of us are moving into new positions.  We took it a bit easier this time and thoroughly enjoyed the recently-opened … More Yosemite National Park

Climbing Half Dome in Yosemite National Park

The guy RD’s decided to hike Half-Dome in Yosemite this weekend (Jeff Lewis, Dave Hulet, Siona Savini, and I).  The only other time I was in Yosemite is long enough ago for me not to remember anything about it.  I’ll certainly remember this time, though. The hike was 15.2 miles roundtrip.  We gained around 4,800 feet … More Climbing Half Dome in Yosemite National Park

“See”

Yesterday was Father's Day.  Tomorrow is Judah's six-month birthday.  So today has a lot of meaning for me.  This new poem called "See" is what I've been thinking lately, as best as I can express it and as best as I can make the 11×17" double-column print version look on a blog.  This is also my new … More “See”

Your Palm Beach

A few days ago, my friend Juan arrived back from Ecuador with the TMC summer missions team he was leading.  We were only able to talk for a couple minutes yesterday, but I was blown away by this: The caption said:  "A Huaorani man that killed Jim Elliot and the missionaries… now prays for our safe … More Your Palm Beach

Rainbow Fire

Speaking of beautiful things in God's creation, check this out.  It's real: Here's the explanation. And here's the ultimate explanation.  And here's what all of this is all about.