The Cave

One of my favorites. . .

“one thing greater than my strife is His grasp”

To everyone who’s hurting
To those who’ve had enough
To all the undeserving
That should cover all of us
Please do not let go
I promise there is hope

Hold fast
Help is on the way
Hold fast
He’s come to save the day
What I’ve learned in my life
One thing greater than my strife
Is His grasp
So hold fast

Will this season ever pass?
Can we stop this ride?
Will we see the sun at last?
Or could this be our lot in life?
Please do not let go
I promise you there’s hope

You may think you’re all alone
And there’s no way that anyone could know
What you’re going through
But if you only hear one thing
Just understand that we are all the same
Searching for the truth
The truth of what we’re soon to face
Unless someone comes to take our place
Is there anyone?
All we want is to be free
Free from our captivity, Lord

Here it comes fast
Help is on the way
Hold fast
He’s come to save the day
What I’ve learned in my life
One thing stronger than my strife
Is Your grasp
So hold fast
Help is on the way
So hold fast
He’s come to safe the day
What I’ve learned in my life
One thing greater than my strife
Is Your grasp
To hold fast

I hope all of the Cave Dwellers have a happy and safe 4th!

The 2008 Willow Wahoo Swim season came to a rainy end yesterday at the district meet. They were able to get most of the meet in before the rain hit, but then they had to cancel the last event. Before the rain hit Michaela was able to get first place in the short breaststroke and a third place in the individual medley. Mackenzie and McKenna both got to swim in a relay event. We were notified that Mackenzie had actually qualified for districts and was able to swim in the long breaststroke, but sadly that was the event that got rained out.

Overall, the season was a big success for our girls. Michaela was the only member of our team to qualify for districts in every single event. She won numerous medals and 2 trophies. Mackenzie had a great first year winning 2 medals and qualifying for districts in her first year swimming. She is disappointed that she did not win a trophy like her big sister, but we keep reminding her that in Michaela’s first year she did not qualify for districts and was just lucky to get across the pool. McKenna was the youngest member of any of the swim teams and did a great job swimming the short freestyle and in a couple of the relay races. Our girls are already wanting to start practicing for next year’s team so that they can do even better!

Here are a few additional pictures from the season:

Today is my oldest daughter Michaela’s 9th birthday. It seems impossible that she is 9 years old already. I love you Michaela!

Thanks to my good friend Bret over at The Capranica I have been memed. When I first read it I had no clue what it meant. But from what I understand it is like a blogosphere game of tag.

Here is the meme:

In an effort to keep it simple, short, and easy to follow, I’d like to challenge you to quote one verse (not one chapter). And then say what the Lord has been teaching you in one sentence (not one paragraph). Then tag 5 peeps (you know the drill).

Here is my answer:

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside the sin which so easily entangles us and let us run with endurance the face that is set before us”

Run with a focus on endurance in this life.

Now I will tag the following people and challenge them with the same meme:

- Bob Aubuchon at Random Words

- Matt Perry at Treasure the Word

- Micah Fries at Friesville

- Tom Bryant at The View from Osprey

- Jesse at Acts 64

Have fun!

This past Saturday was the 4th swim meet of the year. It was a long hot day as there were 8 teams at the meet where there are normally only 4 teams at each meet. Our girls had another good day. Michaela got a first place, a second place and a third place in her age group. She also was able to qualify in every event for the district meet this coming Saturday. So she will able to pick her 3 best events for districts to swim. Mackenzie had another good day swimming in all of her events. She was not able to qualify for districts, but she will be able to swim in the relays and she has improved greatly this year. McKenna swam again this week in the short freestyle and also in 2 relay events.

Here is a video of McKenna’s first ever swim in the meet last week:

Today is the first of 6 games the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox play this year.  As always the Cave is 100% behind the Chicago Cubs.  Although more than anything I am just hoping for some good games.  Let’s go Cubs!

At one of the swim meets a lady from the West Plains newspaper was taking pictures of Father’s and their children. Here is the pic she took of me and the girls:

Here is a very good article by Dr. Charles Lawless:

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)–I am the dean of a school that focuses on missions and evangelism, but evangelism does not always come easy to me. That is surprising to me now, as sharing my faith was quite easy when I was a young believer. In fact, evangelism was never difficult until I became a pastor — when the multiple tasks of ministry seemed to get in the way of evangelism. The more involved I was in leading my church, the less involved I seemed to become in evangelism.

I since have realized that I must intentionally plan evangelism into my life. I have also learned that I am not the only pastor who has to work to keep evangelism at the forefront of his ministry. For me, doing so includes setting personal goals about evangelism.

I am well aware that setting goals for evangelism makes some people nervous. Some will fear that I am suggesting manipulating others into a “decision” for Christ simply to increase numbers. Others may be concerned that I am reducing non-believers to a project to be completed. Some will think that my approach is too man-centered.

None of these concerns is legitimate, in my opinion. I know that God alone saves, and I agree that we must be careful not to manipulate others into a false sense of spiritual security. I also realize that setting goals can lead to impersonal evangelism and a man-centered focus, but I am not convinced that establishing goals automatically leads there.

What I am suggesting is that we must so love God, so believe the Gospel, and so grieve over a lost world that we do whatever it takes to be obedient to the Great Commission. Perhaps the goals I am recommending here will prove helpful to others, particularly as the North American Mission Board calls us to emphasize God’s Plan for Sharing (GPS).

For the remainder of the article:  Evangelism & Goal Setting

Today was the 3rd swim meet of the year.  The highlight of today’s meet was McKenna making her first appearance for the team swimming the short freestyle and doing a great job.  Michaela continued her great year by getting two first places and one second place.  She missed out on the high point trophy this week, but still had a great time.  Mackenzie swam really good today and continues to improve each week.  Here are some pictures from the day: