I simply wanted to have a little time of family prayer. For that to happen, it required for our kids to get their pajamas on and brush their teeth. I told them to do that, then sat down and studied my Hebrew vocabulary, since I am in seminary right now.

Our youngest came back to the living room after 10 minutes, without having brushed his teeth, since he can’t on his own yet. The older ones weren’t to be found. I was a bit frustrated, so I went to their rooms to see what was happening. When one of them was half pajama’d (but with teeth brushed) and reading a magazine, I responded with more frustration, and our family prayer time needed to start with confession instead of thanksgiving.

Lori helping make a fortress at the beach

When we talked as a family that night about how the whole “getting ready for bed quickly” affair went down, I realized that I had done nothing to help them. I simply said, “Get ready quickly and come back to the living room.” Usually, getting ready for bed takes a good 15-20 minutes and is filled with distractions of various kinds, but it doesn’t matter a ton. We usually allow for that amount of time and it isn’t a problem. I wanted that accelerated that night, but I simply told them to go faster, but did nothing to help.  That night,
God very clearly told me, “You did nothing to help them. Your job is to help them, not simply tell them.”

I think my tendency as a parent is to fail to be a paraclete. This is the Greek term for the Holy Spirit that we find in John 14-16. It can be translated “Counsellor, Helper, or Advocate.” It means one who comes along side. That night, God showed me that part of my job description as a parent is to come along side, not simply command. It is to come along side the little ones as they are putting on their clothes, brushing their teeth, making their beds. I have the expertise, the strength and the dexterity to reach up to the top bunk. Yet so often I am passive, or more often, busy. So I tell them to go do things and make them do it in their own strength, teaching them the exact wrong things about what the Christian life is all about.

God does not give us the commands of the Bible and then expect us to do them with the feeble strength and wisdom that we have in ourselves. He wants us to look to Him and lean on Him. He gives those who have received Christ the Holy Spirit to dwell inside them to give them the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. God is our paraclete.

I want my kids to see me as a paraclete. I want them to see me as paraclete in these early years and that it would continue into the years to come. I want them to ask me to help, and I want to jump up and help, no matter what I’m doing. That’s part of my job description. I want them to want me to walk along side them when they are navigating making their bed, learning to ride a bike, winning and losing at sports, making friends in the neighborhood, learning how to adventure, camping and backpacking, entering junior high, entering puberty, learning about boys and girls, the scary world of high school, driving, adolescence, applying for college, picking a major, and entering adulthood. I want to be along side them that whole time, and I think part of it lies in learning how to let the dishes lie undone for a while, and letting the studying wait. It’s both bringing them into my tasks and teaching and training them in those, but also entering into their little world as the one who can train them and come along side them, to be a paraclete, one who comes
along side them, to help them make it and succeed.

I think if I can do that, those family prayer times will go a lot better, both because they will get ready for bed faster, but also because we will be in relationship as we head into those prayer times in the first place.

It has been a great start to the school year here in Davis. It is always exciting and fun to meet new students. They are embarking on a school year that holds new experiences, stress (often both academic and relational), and independence like they have never experienced before.

Jeremiah and I love coaching and training student leaders who are driving the movement and ministry on this campus. They are full of ideas and passion. They are beginning to understand what it means to not just embrace faith in Christ as a personal decision, but also to allow that faith to transform them and inform their life goals and decisions. We want them to see—as I have continued to learn over my almost 20 years since I started college—that relationships are supremely important and that we have the perfect example of Christ who prioritized relationships and invested his life and passion into people, ultimately even giving his very life.

We are excited for this weekend, which is our Fall Retreat for Cru at UC Davis/Napa Valley College. I am looking forward to connecting more with some of our newly involved students.

It has been a different Fall for me (Lori). I haven’t been engaging quite as much with students, since I have just started homeschooling Isaiah this year and am also busy with various legal issues regarding campus access from around the country—never a dull moment. I have to say I am enjoying working with Isaiah, despite the way it further limits my work time. I can see why people love homeschooling. It is so fun to engage with our children and help them think and learn in a focused way. I am even learning things that I either forgot or never learned. Some fun California history and ways of thinking about Math. I also am enjoying the conversations that come up with all the kids because of topics that Isaiah and I are learning or discussing—like our discussion about the fact that we have a 2 party political system in this country, which seemed to fascinate Bethany (it is funny what kids pick up; even though we watch very little media, she asked me “who are you going to vote for for President?”  I said I have no idea, and said I have issues with both parties, but it started an interesting discussion).

Kids love selfies

I would not give myself the title of “soccer mom” since I hardly feel like I deserve it. But I will acknowledge that soccer is in full swing-an intense season, but really quite short (Sept – first week of Nov).

Isaiah throw-in

The boys are both playing, which is fun. Judah has a great little team—I love watching the little 5 year old boys going after the ball and playing hard. I love that all the parents are super encouraging of every kid out there—we just want to see all the boys play well. That may not be the attitude reflected in the boys, however. Judah is a bit competitive…but he is also a great teammate and seems to be understanding a bit about how the game works, looking around for his teammates and passing it to them. Isaiah is learning a ton this year too. Although sports are not intuitive for him, once he learns the rules, he begins to see how it is best to move the ball around and can certainly visualize what he wants to see happen. It is fun to see him beginning to enjoy the game of Soccer.

In other news, it has been HOT here in Davis (OK, keep in mind that my reference from past years was the nice cool Fall of Flagstaff–which we miss). We are still wearing shorts and short sleeves, and have regularly had weather in the 90s. Here we are washing the car (don’t worry–we conserve water–it has been months since washing the car). Any excuse to spray little bits of water on ourselves (haha).

We said good bye to our little Foster son a few days ago. What a sweet boy. We were so blessed to know him. We have many special memories from our time with him.

We got the call one afternoon in Late February—a newborn baby boy. But I was in Florida for Cru legal team meetings, and Jeremiah was home with the kids. We decided to call back. Then more information, then they chose us. We would pick him up from the hospital the next day. But I still wasn’t back from Florida. Thankfully, my parents were there to help, and my dad even got to go to the hospital with Jeremiah. Then I was further delayed when my flight back was cancelled due to a freak ice storm at my stopover location… But I managed to get a flight back late that night, getting into San Francisco around 11:00, then taking Bart, then driving home…

That was how it started.  There were the sweet cuddles with the tiny newborn—the precious face. Eating, sleeping, doctor visits.  I had forgotten the weariness that accompanies nights with a newborn, awake every couple hours. “I am getting too old for this” I told myself many times. But I watched him gain weight, I watched his tense little body relax in my arms when his needs were being met. I carried him everywhere in the sling—the place he felt most secure.

I have to admit that I questioned if it was worth it… I thought: ‘I am doing all the night duty (with Jeremiah’s awesome help of course), but I have no guarantee that I will get to enjoy the joy of the next stages—laughing, rolling over, sitting up, sleeping better, crawling, jabbering.’  The unknown future; the uncertainty of how long any foster placement will be—It can feel exhausting when you want to know what the future will hold. “There is a relative” they said…

But then I did get to see him change; I saw the first smile, then the laughs, then grabbing at things and pushing up on his arms. I watched every developmental step of those first few months. I smiled at him and laughed with him. The kids entertained him, and we all gave him kisses upon kisses on his sweet little cheeks. He knew us; he felt safe and loved.

I also got to build a relationship with his parents as I saw them every week for visits.  I grew to care deeply about them and they grew to trust me. Our conversations became more casual. I took pictures of their family together and gave them updates of all baby’s adventures at our home. I want them to be healthy; I want them to succeed.  I will miss them too. We hope to maintain some connection.

I also enjoyed connecting with strangers who stopped to talk with me because I had a clearly black child with me. I love how he broke down cultural barriers. I love how he enabled me to engage with and learn from black culture. I love the advice I got from strangers for everything from hair care to teething.

It was a special 5 months. The last week we got to take him on our family vacation with us. We went to the beach, we hiked on the bluffs, we went to museums—all with him, our little guy.  Sweet baby boy.  So many kisses for those precious cheeks… Then came the morning when I took him to his relative—his new home. It was fun to meet more of the family—they will love him well.

Good bye beautiful boy. I pray that you will always feel loved and cared for. You will always be in our prayers.

It was worth it.

One of the major themes of our Cru15 conference was racial reconciliation / ethnic diversity. As Lori and I looked over the conference schedule, we noticed a breakout called #blacklivesmatter. This refers to the hashtag that has been used to speak of the disparity in treatment of black people, especially men, at the hand of law enforcement officers in the past year or so. Part of the reason we wanted to attend the event had to do with the fact that we have cared for two black foster children in the last year, and recognize that we know very little about what it is like to be a black person in our country.

The main purpose of this breakout was simply to hear the stories of what it is like to grow up black in the USA. It was heartbreaking to hear of the racism that my brothers and sisters in Christ have dealt with that I’ve never had to endure. There was one story that gripped my heart more deeply than all the others, the story of a father speaking to his son on the cusp of getting his drivers license.

Part of the driver’s training a parent must now give to a black child must include what to do if you are pulled over. There is the sad reality that many have been pulled over simply for a DWB (Driving While Black). One father shared how he told his son that if you are pulled over, pull to where there are a lot of people who can watch the situation unfold. You must keep your hands on the steering wheel, looking straight ahead at all times. Only when the police officer reaches the window do you roll it down, very slowly. Do exactly what they tell you to, or else he may pull you out of the car. Do nothing suddenly, for the policeman may assume you are going for a gun and shoot you.  He told his son to swallow any pride or anger or anything but absolute submission, because his life may depend upon it. This broke my heart, because I never had that talk. Mine was simply, give respect to the police and you’ll receive it as well.

I do not write this to talk about how police act, or if anyone is responsible when pulled over or any of those things, but simply to show that there is an inherent bias against these young black men. It was a powerful time of listening to people who have suffered hurt, and some times at the hands of those who are supposed to protect and serve us.

There were also stories of people being told by their black family and peers to not come on staff with Cru, because it is a predominantly white organization that they thought would not understand what it’s like not to be in the majority culture.  Their lives have been a different path than mine, and I hadn’t much—up to that point—stopped to listen to what their stories might be.

My desire is to be part of the solution that rejects the continuing inequalities of opportunity in our country. I don’t know what it will involve, but I think it begins with listening to people’s stories, making friends, and being an advocate for every person to be viewed primarily as a person of infinite worth, made in the image of God.

Have you ever stood during a worship time at church and felt blank? And yet, you know there are deep waters right below the surface. Then there comes a moment when you allow your mind to focus on a particular line in a worship song and suddenly you allow the truth of how deeply Christ intersects our lives—how much he understands our sorrows, how much he has forgiven us, how good he is, how intimately he knows me—to crack the surface of that blankness. Then a tear trickles out. Then the choice comes—do I allow myself to enter in to this emotion, or keep holding it back…?

Well, you may never have experienced that, but I have. It can be similar reading the Word as well. Sometimes I read it and I feel like a duck—it washes right off my back, interesting, but not going to affect me, not going to sink in. But if I stop trying to do the task of reading, and allow my mind to engage, it is so much more than a book, and it truly does pierce, discern and expose as is described in Hebrews 4:12-13. And this is a good thing, because being built up always follows being exposed.  Encouragement and care mean so much more when they come from someone who knows the real me (who better than Jesus?)—not the put-together façade I manage to maintain most of the time (although, I will admit having children around me that are not 100% in my control does hinder my efforts to look put together at times—haha).

I don’t want to have to be cracked. I don’t want to experience blankness. I want to live more fully in the light (I John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”). So how do I decompress on the inside in such a way that will soften my outside as well? How do I live authentically for Christ, not focused on my way, my reputation, my desires?

Ney Bailey shared at the Cru15 conference (one of tons of great thoughts) that we should “Bring God into the negative by thanking him for hard things. It allows him to be at work.” When we are frustrated by life’s circumstances, we should use discernment to pray instead of being critical. As I have thought about this, I think it is interesting that often when we are critical of circumstances, in our hearts we are blaming God for not doing what we want. That turns out to be pretty “me-centered,” failing to recognize that God has a lot more information and a lot more wisdom than we do. He is both more for us and less for us than we are. He is more for us in that he knows what we need much more than we do, and he will chose what is better, even if we would not have chosen it. Yet he is less for us in that he is ultimately for His glory and not ours. The place these two perspectives mesh, however, is in the reality that if we are for His glory and not ours, we will be happier too, so it is really “for us” to make that choice to be less focused on ourselves.

I am seeking to put this wisdom into practice in little ways. When I am frustrated by my circumstances, I am seeking to thank God for each thing that is frustrating me.

• I can thank him that none of our foster kids has turned out to be adoptable because through fostering he has grown my heart for birth families, he has taught me about different cultures, he has given me opportunities to step outside of my comfort zone, and he has shown me that I can care for kids on the deepest level who are not truly “mine.”
• I can thank him for my oldest son’s difficulty learning empathy because through it God is teaching me patience and exposing my own struggle to sacrifice my wants for the sake of others too.
• I can thank him for legal challenges to our Cru Chapters getting registered around the country because it allows us to learn dependence on God instead of strategy, and leads many students to think about what it means to follow Christ and whether it is worth it to live our lives with a firm foundation on the rock of God’s Word.

This practice causes me to worship more deeply, taking my eyes even more off of myself, and allowing me to trust and hope in Him. And that makes me happier, takes away fears, and peels off the “blankness.” Thank you God!

Have you ever noticed that there are certain types of questions people ask when you meet them? I have noticed this more starkly this summer. Probably because I have met a lot of new acquaintances and re-met old acquaintances many years later as I take classes with them, etc. But I think I have also noticed it because questions that should be easy to answer are not so easy for me to answer…

The hardest question for me is “How many kids do you have?” That sounds strange, right? The answer is a number…. But here is my situation: I have 3 birth kids who are with me here in Colorado. I have a foster son in Davis who is staying with another foster family so he can visit with his family each week while we are away. We will be getting him back when we go back home, but probably not for very long… I miss him a ton and feel bad that I am missing this time with him—we had him since he was a couple days old, and I want to keep nurturing and caring for him—but he probably isn’t too aware of us being gone (even though I do know he was bonded and felt secure with me).

So, how do I answer the question? I don’t know. I only have 3 permanent children, but I do still see the baby as part of our family, and my hopes and dreams are still that we will get to adopt a foster child at some point, Lord willing. Yet we don’t have any evidence of that part of our lives here, the part where precious children keep coming in and out of our family, as my children, yet not my children—noone can see that part of my heart or my life because I just have three white kids that look like me trapesing about with me. All I am learning and processing about ethnic diversity and what it might mean to be a multicultural family long term (if the Lord grants it someday), and how inadequate I would be at it, etc.—that is all hidden from view and not fully processed.

And I don’t want to seem like I am tooting my own horn by mentioning we have a foster kid back home.  Of course there isn’t pride involved for me; just a desire for people to know my reality, to know a little bit of me. But I am afraid that they won’t understand or that they will take it the wrong way. I am thankful that the Lord knows my heart and that I can process it all with him, but I nevertheless feel a little emptiness…

Another complicated question for me is “Where do your kids go to school?” Simple right? We have been at our neighborhood public school, and that is where Bethany is going to continue to go, and Judah is starting out in Kindergarten—very exciting! I have decided to home school Isaiah though, through the district’s independent study program. I think it will be fun and a new adventure for us, though I am a bit nervous about my time management and fitting all my responsibilities in… The complication in answering comes because people inevitably ask why I am homeschooling just him?  I don’t totally know what to say, because it has been a long process in coming to the decision—all positive, but many-faceted. I mean, if it is someone who knows our family well, then they know Isaiah and can understand why we think it will be best for him right now. He is such a beautiful kid inside and out, but he has his quirks—he thinks a bit differently than most kids his age.  He actually was doing pretty well in the school setting, but also felt a little stuck by the structure and limitations inherent in the education of the masses. I want to give him more time to think about faith and philosophy, to develop his both his academic mind and his creative side, and to develop in his character in certain ways (letting God’s Word transform our hearts). I also think he may get along really well with some of the other boys in the independent study program in the smaller setting of the enrichment classes they offer, and think he will enjoy soccer more when it doesn’t mean he has to go from school to practice and lose all his free time (the cause of much emotion last year).

It is not a cliché to say that all kids are different. Anyone who parents more than one child can attest—it is so funny how much Bethany thrives in a classroom setting. She is aware of everyone around her, loves to help other kids learn as she learns herself, and loves participating in group activities.  She makes friends with everyone, and feels the weight of their emotions and struggles very deeply in her own heart too. She likes to read and does it well, but is nowhere near as obsessed with it as Isaiah. Yet they are both so creative and love creating imaginary worlds together.  As for Judah, he is very social and imaginative too—it will be interesting to see how he likes the “every day” school experience of Kindergarten.  Bottom line—I am getting old! My little guy is entering Kindergarten. Time flies.

Finally, a less-than-simple question for me is “What is your job?” I think this is mostly awkward because the majority of people in Cru can answer with a short mention of the ministry they serve with—I just feel long-winded when I try to describe my role without it seeming like I am doing more than I really am. I mean, I could just say I serve part time with the Legal team. But that isn’t complete because my nametags always say I am part of the Campus Field Ministry, serving on a college campus (in our case, UC Davis and surrounding schools). And that is true—I am part of an awesome team working on campus. But then again, I don’t do a ton there—just discipling some students and supporting the team however I can; more of my “work time” is spent on legal issues.

So I end up mentioning my full time mom job and my two part time roles within Cru, and say that I am very blessed to have the opportunity to serve in diverse and varied ways. Most likely I am just overthinking my responses—no one is counting how many seconds it takes to respond.  Ultimately, I really want to get to talking about the person asking the question (you are probably thinking—hm, this smacks of insecurity and people pleasing how she is writing—and you are probably right).  Nevertheless, I am authentic in my interest. I learn so much every time I talk to other people in ministry—their experiences and insights are so fun to draw out and often encourage and bless me as I continue serving in ministry myself.

And then there are other questions, like “What is your favorite ice cream?” Seriously, who can answer that? Too many choices. Just kidding. Or “where do you think religious liberty is headed in this country?” OK, not a simple question…I don’t think I will try to answer that one here… Or “How do you explain the Trinity?” Haha, not simple—though it has been fun to study it in one of my theology classes.

Anyway, you get the point. Life is complicated. But God is good.

Jeremiah and I both love learning. I am thankful that our kids seem to be catching this as well. I hope I never stop wanting to learn, and that I continue to experience learning in many different venues–in the classroom, by trying new experiences, by watching and loving children, through struggles and challenging circumstances, by being a student of other cultures, by listening to people different from myself and, most importantly in my view, by continuing to read God’s Word and seeking to know Him more.

This summer we have the great privilege to focus on deepening our knowledge of God in a classroom setting. Cru has some excellent theology classes so that its staff continue to grow and learn theologically and in ministry. These classes help us keep Christ at the center of our motivations and strategies as we continue to serve, reach out to, and minister to college students (for those of us in the Campus Ministry) around the country and the world.  It helps us to deepen our trust in and dependence on God in our personal life and minstry life, and reminds us that what matters most is His glory, not our own.

I have found that I am learning a lot about things that I thought I knew already, but had not grasped the depth and beauty of them as fully.  For example, taking a closer look at God’s attributes has both encouraged and amazed me. Similarly, studying the theology of salvation has blessed me. Christ accomplished so much through his life, death and resurrection, and yet it is so personal in how it applies to us individually in a real way–both at the point of receiving Christ as Lord, and for our whole lives after that. We are not just forgiven, but are seen as having Christ’s perfect record; we are not just given a gift, but are adopted and loved as God’s children (an amazing forever family); because we know we are loved as His children, we can experience discipline and sanctification as a safe, joyful experience for our good. Those are just some of the thoughts that have blessed and challenged me.

In addition to theology, my Apologetics class has been great. Apologetics is not just about “defending the faith,” but is really about learning how to listen and care about people, noticing and humbly addressing people’s barriers to understanding who God is and why belief in Him and in God’s Word is relevant and meaningful to our lives.

I also enjoy that Jeremiah and I have so many great conversations about what we are each learning in our different classes. We end up encouraging and challenging each other, and also enjoy talking about life and how our beliefs about God intersect it.  We would also love to hear about what you are learning from God and through life. Don’t hesitate to email us and let us know how you are doing!

This is an analogy I’m toying with. Please let me know your thoughts, and suggest any corrections, additions and corresponding Bible verses.

If you carry around an adorable baby on a college campus, you will soon be surrounded by young women oohing and ahhing over him.  I say this from personal experience.  And it is a cross-cultural reality. I remember when Judah was a baby and I took him to the Dominican Republic—his presence allowed me to have many conversations with young Dominican women who wanted to hold him. Déjà vu—here I am again, only this time it is students right here at UC Davis and my beautiful foster son.

We have had our little foster son in our home for over 2 months now, since he was 2 days old. He is precious, beautiful and sweet, even if he has prevented me from getting a good night of sleep since he arrived. It has been an adventure stepping back in to life with a newborn. I love the feel of the little head nestled under my chin. Looking at the peaceful little face when he is sleeping, and marveling at his tiny little fingers and toes, is still amazing to me.

I don’t go on campus a lot these days, since my discipleship girls come to me and staff team and leadership meetings are often off campus.  But I do still enjoy the feeling of being on the campus, seeing the mass of students emerge from the buildings and bike in mass to their next classes.  I take the kids to campus for weekly meetings on Thursday nights every few weeks though, and they enjoy climbing up and down stairs and looking around at the big buildings.  They also like hanging out with the Cru students before the meeting starts (although Isaiah can often be found sitting in one of the classroom seats just reading).

Two weeks ago, when I walked into the weekly meeting, I was holding baby outside of the sling, meaning he was in full view.  I immediately noticed a group of girls looking my way and making little squeeling/murmuring noises. I decided to indulge them and walk up. Then they all wanted to hold him and touch his toes and feel his soft hair and skin and generally comment on how adorable he is—which is true.  Then the group just kept getting bigger until the meeting started.

Then this past week, we were at our Davis Cru Spring Retreat. We had over 70 students there, which was a ton of fun.  The baby had no lack of hands willing to hold him. Any time I had responsibilities or was helping out to clean up, I just had to ask the closest girl if she wanted to hold him. It is fun how well loved all of our children are by the college students we work with—we are blessed for our kids to grow up with lots of positive influences. But there is something about a newborn that makes the college girls squeal and sigh.

The magic of babies goes beyond college girls, however.  It is so fun how babies break down barriers across the board. You know that invisible barrier that says don’t address perfect strangers in a store when you randomly walk by them? Not true when you are holding a baby. And then there is the invisible barrier that I didn’t even really notice before.  That invisible (usually not even recognized, and probably subconscious) barrier between strangers of different races that often means they don’t naturally seek to make eye contact or get into a conversation when walking by? It is no longer there when I have a baby of color with me, and I love engaging with more people because of it. Now that I know it was there, I am also trying to intentionally see and smile at more people I pass by, even when I am by myself.

So here I am, trying to notice things and breathe in the moments of life that I get to experience. Even if Foster care is very temporary and unpredictable, I will take in all that I can. God has blessed me with these moments and these connections.

Today I went to a park with Judah and just sat with him, had a picnic,and played together. It was a moment of true rest, looking up through the leaves of the trees, rustling in the gentle breeze, with my precious little boy laying next to me and telling me he loves me. It reminded me to take time to reflect on how much I am thankful for. One thing my mind went to after thanking God for Jeremiah and the kids was our staff team…

We have really enjoyed working with the staff team here at Davis. Although we still miss Flagstaff, having great people to work with has made the transition easier.  A number of factors have made it feel like a great fit.

First, there are many young interns on the team, who are all taking big steps of faith and seeking the Lord for their futures–it is an exciting time of life. We are enjoying supporting them and caring for them in this stage, and we love helping to create community on the staff team by having our home be a place for game nights and bonding to happen.

Second, I love seeing a team that acknowledges and celebrates the different gifts on the team. Everyone wants to work together to build up and serve the movement here at UC Davis and on the other campuses in our scope we want to launch movements on. We still have a lot to learn about how to rely on one another and help one another to flourish in our unique giftings from the Lord (functioning as the Body is harder than understanding the concept), but I am certainly love seeing Jeremiah flourish in his gifts of shepherding and vision casting. He has been able to focus on helping others move towards the mission in his caring, compassionate way, humbly pointing others to the power of the gospel and to Christ’s sufficiency.

Third, I am thankful that we get to work with another great staff family here. The Floths are a lot of fun, and our kids love their kids too. It is fun that we are very different from them, yet have similar vision for wanting to see God move through relational networks on campus, and wanting to help students naturally reach their connections and prepare them to continue to live missionally for a lifetime.

Fourth, being on a team has allowed Jeremiah and me to continue to build into the other passions and gifts He has given us as well. Jeremiah has been working hard on seminary in his spare time; he is loving the chance to dig his theological roots in more deeply, and is becoming even more passionate for God’s Word. I have loved the chance to work with some amazing students at Davis while still keeping my primary work focus on my legal responsibilities for Cru. It is such a joy to provide legal support for our efforts in the Campus Ministry to protect and ensure that our mission and messages remain strong and undiluted in every Cru Chapter around the US.

God is good. Life and ministry are not easy, but there is so much joy in the midst of it all. I am glad that God used a trip to the park with Judah to remind me to stop my mind whirring in the business of tasks, and to take a Thanksgiving break.