Take a Hike, by Will

I love to hike. I hike year round, and have the footwear and attire for each season; I've even been looking at snowshoes to make my winter excursions easier. I made my own hiking staff (actually 2, and I'm working on a third with Aaron, it depends on the mood I'm in that day). I've got my favorite local trails, and Jeremy and I are working on a plan to section hike the Appalachian Trail over the next couple decades. I like to be up early, the first one on the trail. I love the cool air first thing in the morning, and I love taking in how the landscape changes as the sun comes up. I love to hike.

I'm working to instill this love in my girls. I'm teaching them how, and when, to use their rescue whistles (this lesson is taking a little longer than I was hoping because blowing it every 10 feet was not part of the lesson) I just bought my oldest a Firesteel, and we're starting to learn about making a campfire, leading to how to survive in the woods. I love hiking with them, and seeing their enjoyment. The only downside to my trail buddies is that they have really little legs. When I hike with them I end up carrying a lot, my oldest gets tired of carrying her backpack, my youngest gets carried for the first half, and there are things in the woods that they want (I picked up my hiking pants today and they were heavy from all of the rocks we had to have). When I hike with them I'm focused on them. They like to run ahead or lag behind (or they each do one of the above at the same time). All of these things add to my enjoyment of the hike, and these are memories I treasure.

A few weeks ago, I had the chance to hike by myself for the first time in months. I've been really busy with work and school, and for the past two months my Saturdays have not had a spare moment. The school term ended on a Friday, and so Saturday I got up and went on a five mile hike. I got there a little later than I wanted, I saw half a dozen people within the first hour, but it was a great time to just clear my head. I don't typically do a lot of praying while I hike, I find that my mind wanders way too much, but it still ends of being a refreshing time with God. It's time I need a lot more in my life, and I've even assembled a hiking kit to keep in my trunk, that way I am always prepared to take a walk in the woods.

There is always a reason not to hike. I'm too busy, which is almost always true. It's too far of a drive/too much of a hassle to assemble my pack (which is never less than 98% ready to go), it's raining (in spite of the fact that I have rain gear). I love to hike, and I need to hike more than I do, it's good for my soul, but the excuses come so easily. I find this to be true of my time with God with as well. I know I need it, but it feels like there is so much else that has to get done, and this is for people who control my income. When I make this excuse I'm reminded of Martin Luther who would pray for, I believe, three hours each morning; when he was asked about what he would do the morning of a particularly busy day he said, "I'll pray for four hours this morning". For Luther, prayer was the answer to the hectic chaos, not an obligatory burden to fit into the day. It was his essential source of strength.

Hiking rejuvenates me, even a long and difficult hike. I feel great when I get done, and I wonder why I don't make more time for hiking. Time with God is the same way, and yet it is something I put off because of how busy I am. As I've been writing this I've been thinking about my first trip to Israel. The first few nights we stayed at a hotel in Tiberius, right on the Sea of Galilee. Jeremy was on this trip as well, and we would get up early to spend time down by the sea. When you're part of a Bible Lands tour, they are hectic, trying to squeeze as much as possible into each day, it's overwhelming. These mornings as we took in the sounds of the sea, watching the sun rise over hills on the far shore, it was that moment of calm serenity before the chaos of the day. And as I sat there just taking in the red sun light cutting through the haze, I couldn't help thinking about Jesus, and the mornings He spent near this same body of water.

Mark 1.35 says, "In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there." If there was ever a busy man, it was Jesus. And yet, He made time every morning to get alone and pray.

I wish I lived in an area where I could hike to a secluded spot each morning just to be alone with God, but at this point in my life, that isn't an option, but hopefully someday. But what about until then? I can't hike the AT right now, but that doesn't mean I don't hike. I can't pray like I'd like to right now, but that doesn't mean I can not pray.

Right now life is full of changes, and right now I need God's guidance more than ever before. Right now, my life is more chaotic than ever before, adjusting to the new normal, or momentary normal, with my girls, school, work, it's overwhelming. It's ok to take time and pray. It's ok to take a hike. For me, both are essential. I need to stop thinking about the time it is going to cost me, and instead focus on the benefit of the activity.

God gave me a love of hiking, and He created me to desperately need Him. I cannot allow the responsibilities I have take away my source of life and refreshment.

TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!

Divorce, by Will

Both of my parents are from divorced homes. As a result, they were committed to stick together. Growing up as a believer, divorce was one of those things that was never an option, but yesterday I found myself in a place I never expected to be. Yesterday, after over two years of the process, my marriage was terminated by the court. It's something I've known was coming for a long time, but the finality of it has brought on feelings and emotions I didn't expect. People talk about this so casually because, sadly, it's a regular part of life today, but this isn't right, it isn't normal, and it isn't at all what God wants.

This is really fresh, less than 24 hours old, and in all honesty, I probably haven't even begun to process this enough to write about it; however, part of me feels that this is part of the healing process. Dads get screwed, I can now confirm that that is the case. I want to be bitter. I want to respond in spite, and spill a lot of things on here, but I know that isn't the right response, and if I did that wouldn't be doing what is best for my girls. I know that that response isn't going to do any good, and simply makes things harder for my girls. At this point I'm simply trying to process, heal, pick up the pieces, and move forward with the knowledge that life isn't over, and I'm still a dad who my girls need.

I've thought about this post for the past few months, and one of the things that has consistently come to mind are the lyrics from a song in my Daddy Daughters play list:

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances, but they're worth takin'
Lovin' might be a mistake, but it's worth makin'
Don't let some Hellbent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to sellin' out, reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance

-Verse 2 of "I hope you Dance"

Right now there is a lot of uncertainty in my life. I'm not sure what the future looks like, and I have financial concerns. I'm not sure where I go career wise, and I'm questioning a lot about God. It's a rough place to be. I find myself questioning a lot of the legal decisions I made over the past two years, as well as the counsel that I was given by my church. I find myself frustrated because I tried to do things God's way, and I feel like God let me down. I want to trust that God will deal with the issues the courts wouldn't, but part of me doubts very much that He ever will.

So where do I go now? Well, today I'm going to work. Tonight I'll go home and pack some more stuff up. Tomorrow I'll do that again. Saturday I'll see my girls. Sunday I'll take them to church. Beyond the routine I don't know. One of my pastors wants to work with me on some things, and part of me isn't sure that I want to. Part of me doesn't see the point, and doubts that it matters at all at this point.

I don't feel like dancing, and the path of least resistance is very appealing.

And then there is the identity that I have felt God has been speaking into me, and realizing that this situation is a chance to claim it. My reaction now determines who I'll be as a man, and as a dad.

My mind is now blank, and so since this is the beginning of the process, I'll simply end this here.

TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!

The Need for Brothers, by Will

"A man of too many friends comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." -Proverbs 18.24

Growing up, I didn't have a lot friends. When I got to high school, I lived farther away form everyone else, and so it was hard to do things with them outside of school. It wasn't until college that I really made real friends, guys who would be with me throughout the rest of my life. For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted a group of friends, not a big group, but a few guys who I could do life with. When I read Wild at Heart and The Way of the Wild Heart for the first time, this desire for masculine fellowship really began to be strengthened. This is something we need, but not just friends, you need men that you do more than simply watch sports and make small talk with. We need brothers.

The term "brother" is one that holds significant meaning to me, and it is one that I do not give out lightly. When I call someone brother, I am making a commitment. When it comes to my brothers, there is nothing in the world I wouldn't do. When I call someone brother I am saying I have your back through thick and thin. When I call someone brother I am saying I will stand by your side in any battle you face. When I call someone brother, I am saying that I will fight with you, or for you, that I will shed my blood for you, and if I have to, I am willing to die for you. When I call someone brother, I am saying I will be the first one to celebrate their joy, and the first one to shed tears of sorrow. The term brother is a big deal to me.

A man of many friends comes to ruin because a friend doesn't share this commitment level. A brother is the one who answers the phone at 2 am. A brother is the one who is there during the hardest times of your life. A brother is the one who calls you out when you're being an idiot. A brother is the one who rejoices with you over the victories. A brother isn't someone who ditches you to save their own skin, but is willing to stand by you and die for you. If you fall, a brother stands guard over you to protect you, then help you back up, and helps to heal your wounds. This goes way beyond watching football with a bag of Doritos.

Men are bored, and men don't have brothers. Brothers call you to battle, and they call you to adventure. We need this. It's too easy to get into the routine of work, home, sleep, repeat. Jeremy and I were talking a few months ago, we've talked a lot since we were college roommates. Jeremy got me into backpacking, and we used to talk about the trips we'd like to do. Guess how many we've done in the time we've known each other? One. In this recent conversation he said, "We need to start doing these things, or we'll get to the point where we can't and regret it." It's true, and so we've started to talk with more intentionality.

Our group is working to commit to our retreat weekend each year, and we're being intentional about building relationships throughout the year. Really, we're just trying to do life together.

I saw a movie a while back, "A Walk in the Woods", based on the book by the same title, by Bill Bryson. I finished the book last week, and watched the movie again (just a heads up there is some strong profanity, and suggestive language, as well as suggested scenes but nothing is seen). It's about two middle aged men who set out to through hike the Appalachian Trail, a 2,000 plus mile hike from Georgia to Maine. Jeremy and I have talked about it, but the reality is that a 4-6 month outing isn't realistic, so we're looking at other options of how to undertake it. Anyway, the credits for the movie role with a song by Lord Huron called "Brother":



The lyrics capture the life I want with my brothers. Adventure, facing our fears, standing together in battle, friendship. As men we need this. We were made for this fellowship, we were made to do life together.

Don't live in isolation. Don't fight alone. You need brothers, not simply friends, but brothers who have your back. Who will celebrate and weep with you. Brothers who will pick you up and call you out. Brothers who will fight by your side and adventure with you. I am privileged to call these men my brothers, and I look forward to the miles we will walk, the battles we will fight, and the adventures we will live. I can't wait to celebrate your victories, and when we must, I will mourn your losses. I am privileged to do life with you.

TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!

The Parables of Life, by Jacob

"You need to go not for the destination or for the mileage on your odometer, but for what God shows you along the way." - Seth Barnes


Journeys are beautiful things (at least I think so)! They are beautiful, however, not because they are easy, but because they are good! A journey means a lot of things: change, difficulties, leaving, finding, both mountains and valleys. Truthfully though, on a deeper more fundamental level, a journey means growth; it means becoming something more than you are today, something you hope to become...you hope to grow into. And that is beautiful! That is worth it in the end, right?


We are all in the midst of a journey. For some it might be a huge transition from high school to college, a physical move even. For others that means transitioning into a long-term job on your way out of college, or maybe finding one, yikes! Or it could be a little simpler like you are looking for a newer car to replace your old, worn out one. You know, the one that drives fairly well, but every time it rains the front floorboards get soaked, the engine light has been on for years now and still you're not sure why, and you're tired of dealing with that one window that gets stuck halfway down in the winter. You are on a journey for a new car.

Whatever it is, big or small, a journey is a part of life!

I have found my life over the past 2 years to be a journey of both epic proportions and complete mundane-ness all at the same time! After a number of years being single, I started dating a girl, she became my wife, and we are expecting our first child. This all took place in 2 years. I have also had significant job changes in those two years, among a few other things, and yet, the mundane-ness easily takes over all perspective leaving me feeling lost sometimes. Its crazy how such significant changes can still leave me lacking focus and losing perspective!

But, in all of this God remains faithful!

I met my wife in a coffeeshop. She was working for Starbucks at the time. When we started dating, her still working for Starbucks, I was managing a coffeeshop. We were sitting in a coffeeshop early on in our dating, and she was telling me one of her dreams was to open a coffeeshop. I roast coffee as a hobby, and I have worked in three different coffeeshops. Suffice it to say, we both have our own history (and love!) of coffee.

See, God does not lose sight of our dreams even when we do!

On a whim, we went down to visit Adventures in Missions (AIM) in Gainesville, Georgia. She was planning and fundraising for an 11 month missions trip with them called the World Race when we met, one of the things that attracted me to her. So, because we got married first, we went down to pursue other options for missions, but we left with more questions than answers.

Finally deciding on going to one of their longterm bases for a few months, I called up our contact in the organization and he proceeded to ask a few questions about when and where. I told him towards the end of this year and either Cambodia or India. He then told me of an opportunity...the longterm base leader in Cambodia had recently asked if he could send a couple of people to help start a coffeeshop at their base - which is a hostel (this helps them better serve those who stay and have the opportunity to share the Gospel with them).

WHAT!?!?

Um, Yes!!!

And so we are going. And yes, my wife is also pregnant. But we are choosing to respond to the call of God and the open door He put in front of us despite the complications. And we have found out that their is great medical care in both Cambodia and especially Thailand if we need it! God has taken care of all of the details, and when we start to get a little nervous, he takes care of those issues as well.

God loves journeys! Whether small or big, whether mundane or epic, God takes us all on our journey in this life. It could include actually moving somewhere else, but it can also include moving outside your door when you feel like staying inside. It could include moving your chair beside a window to spend time with Him instead of moving it in front of the tv that particular night. It could include moving to ask your boss for a raise instead of staying at the same place. Whatever it is, it includes risk, because their is no real growth without risk and some discomfort.

This is our journey right now. This is where my wife, our little one we have yet to meet, and I am at on our journey. In all of the seeming mundaneness, God includes a little excitement and adventure because we need it, we were born for it.


What does your journey look like?
How is God bringing adventures both big or small into your life?
Every journey is a place of encounter and partnership with Jesus - it is so worth celebrating!

P.S. Consider partnering with us on our journey. We need your prayers in this step. We also need support financially. All we have to purchase is plane tickets. If you have airline miles and would love to donate, purchase our tickets, or support us in any amount financially would help! And thank you:) We are excited about serving on the mission field.
https://www.adventures.org/give/donate.asp?giveto=staff&desc=Jacob+and+Ariel+Wachtel&appeal_id=WACHTELJACOB%26ARIEL

Bathtubs and Soap Suds by Aaron

Currently my 3 year old son loves taking a bath. When I tell him each night (or every other night) that he is going to get a bath he starts jumping up and down, as he sprints up the steps. I try to fill the bathtub with as many soap suds as possible, otherwise he will say "daddy why are there no bubbles?" My wife and I decided early in marriage that when we had children that I would be the one to give them baths. Many nights I am really tired, and don't feel much like doing anything especially giving my son a bath. That all goes away when I see how excited he gets about playing with his toys in the tub and being with "daddy" for a few minutes.

This post is pretty simple to be honest. Think about how excited the Father gets when you set aside time to spend with Him. He is waiting patiently for you to take time out of your day to say hello to him. He is waiting for you to sprint upstairs when He tells you that he is running the bath water for you. That bath water could be a new job that he has waiting for you. That bath water can be peace that he has in waiting for you. That bath water could be blessings stored up for you that he wants to bless you and your family with. That bath water could be hope in a situation when you thought there is no more hope left. That bath water could just being in the presence of a good good Father (great song).

After I give my son a bath and rinse off all the soap suds from his body, I pick him up and wrap him in a towel as I hold close to keep him warm. The Father wants to wrap His loving arms around you. It doesn't matter what kind of sin you are involved in and how "dirty" you are. The Father is the only one who can truly wash away all the filth. He does not care what you look like, or how much money you have, or how much you have sinned in your life. He is willing and waiting anxiously to wash away those sins. We are so lucky to have a loving father like that.

As our busyness continues to grow and time seems to creep away from us; let us continue to make time for the Father. He is waiting patiently to bless us and clean away our filth. We need to confess those sins and ask the Father for forgiveness, so that we can be right with Him. I don't know about you but I'm ready to go take a bath. I'm getting tired of all this filthiness holding me back from the blessings the Father has for me. I'm going to let the Father wrap me in his arms. He is glad to do it for anyone that asks. Love you all and have a blessed day!!

-Aaron