Shelled

From guest blogger Chip North.

I was reminded this morning in my quiet time of something that's been on my heart.

Uncle Mike made this statement to me regarding our time of worship on Sunday, "You have really come out of your shell".

I thought wow, I did not realize I had been operating from inside a shell. As I thought about this I realized that prior to accepting the assignment for the first book study from Daniel a year or so ago I had been "in my shell". It was safe in there, comfortable, no one really

expected much from me there, I was "in control". Oh there were some other things in there with me I did not mention, fear of failure, past hurts, insecurity, disappointment in other believers especially church leaders and the regret of my own sin(s).

Well I submit to you my brothers that there was someone or something else that was in control. I was not trusting in the One that called me to repentance and cleansed me for a purpose. Eric nailed it last night when he talked about being saved to help others into the kingdom, not just warm a pew. I am paraphrasing but that is what I heard. This was the same thing we heard at our Local Church Conference last week, we need to be looking outward not inward. This is the same as the Great Commission, Go therefore and make disciples.......

I was created to worship Him! I was created with the exact mix of gifts and talents that God needed for me to complete the work that He wanted me to do. I have been in hog heaven outside the shell! I still have my doubts about my abilities and my own insecurities but I am more than willing to serve Him even if I make a fool of myself for my King. After all He died for me! He died for you!

So I pray for all of us that we apply Proverbs 3:5-6 to our walk today. If you are in a shell of your own. "Put down the books" to quote brother Tony. Cling to God like the robe we talked about last night

(Jeremiah 13:1-11), He has a good plan for your life! He wants to use US to bring others into His kingdom because He loves everyone. He has created us with the exact mix of gifts and talents to complete the work He has for us. He has a purpose in His mind. Trust Him to speak to you, listen for that still small voice. Show up for work brothers!


Serving with you,
Chip

Detox

My wife and I are in the middle of a family experiment. We have significantly altered our family diet... for a specific amount of time. Our family is eating "whole" foods and excluding a lot of things we would normally eat. We are watching how we feel and our children's behavior to see if there are any clear benefits. It turns out there are, but not what I expected.

About a week ago a bunch of my muscles went into rebellion and seized up. I've been in pain since then wondering, "What is going on?" I've come to the realization that I'm experiencing detox.

Your body can cope with a lot unhealthy things and keep moving forward pretty well. It does this by taking all the poisons and junk that it's not sure what to do with and stashing it away in dusty corners.... until cleaning day arrives. Detox is cleaning day.

Have you ever decided to clean your house and discovered that it got a lot more messy during the cleaning process? That's detox. Have you ever sought to right a wrong in a relationship and things seemed to get more wrong before they got better? That's detox too.

Detoxification is when the polluting process is reversed. The goal is to be clean... but the path to clean isn't a tidy path. Whether it's your garage, your body, or your relationships, when you make a commitment to detoxify, know that this process requires effort and will involve some discomfort. Getting it right is worth it.

When you are on a detox path....
- Put Christ first in all and listen to His guidance. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
- Set the right pace. Allow yourself (or a relationship) to be stretched.... but not torn.
- Focus on the basics; Keep your heart grounded in Christ, drink lots of water, consume good things (body and mind).
- Finish what you started - If you leave a bigger mess, you haven't completed your mission.
- Sooner is better than later, because a little detox is much easier than a big detox.

Your body, mind and your relationships will be joy-filled... and more fruitful.

Hebrews 12:2, NASB "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

1 Peter 1:22, NASB "Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God."

Matthew 18:15, ESV "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother."

James 5:16, ESV "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

Ephesians 4:32, ESV "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

Imagine if...

We all know people on the edge.

Sometimes they appear on the edge of the conversation. We've each seen that person... and been that person. Standing near. Listening attentively.... but not quite in the circle. Picture this person. Who's face do you see?

Some people we know are on the dangerous edge of a cliff, or walking the narrow edge of indecision.   They may be making destructive choices in relationships and in life. They're not even sure they want to be saved because they're not sure they're worth it. Who is this person? Say their name right now.

There are also people on the edge of giving up.... which, perhaps, could also be the edge of reaching breakthrough. We know these people too. The good person that never seems to move forward. The gifted person whose talents go unrecognized and unused. You've felt their pain.... because you care about them. You know their name.

These are people we care about. Why would we standby and let them fade from the conversation, slip off the cliff, or stay stuck?

Imagine if your circle of conversation were a little bigger and how much richer it could be.
Imagine if the risk taker chose life instead of death, and left the edge of the cliff forever.
Imagine if the discouraged and weary person that has so much to offer found a family where they were received, celebrated, and encouraged.
Imagine if they were part of life at the Outpost.

Leave behind fear. Remember what's at stake. Call those on the edge into the circle. You have the power to change someone's life with a simple invitation. Who are you bringing to dinner?

The smell of the evening meal is hanging in the air. The fire is warm, the room is bright. The family is gathering. Come... don't leave anyone on the edge. All are welcome at the Outpost.

... that not one would be lost

"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
Matthew 18:12-14

Paul the Babbler

An observation that I've made is that the Lord's way often looks upside or backwards (or both!) when you are seeing it from a worldly perspective. That's because, if we are looking from the world's perspective... we are upside down.

When the Apostle Paul rolled into Athens... a few years back... Athens was no longer the peak of all civilization it had once been. But it was still an important place, especially if you liked to have ideas and think thoughts. Idea having and thought thinking was all the rage in Athens. The idea-havers and thought-thinkers would tell you they were pursuing ultimate truth. From what I read in the Book of Acts, I think they were deceiving themselves. They had long since confused actual, immutable, real, truth with very new zingy and trendy or really old and important sounding.

Acts 17:21 - "Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new."

The idea havers and the thought thinkers fell into two main groups (and lots of other smaller groups). There were the Epicureans and the Stoics (Acts 17:18).

The Epicureans basically believed that life is about what you feel... and because they weren't totally dumb... good feelings were better than bad feelings. So, if something felt good, that meant it was true-ish. Many of the Epicureans valued good food, good company, good humor, and good stuff. They wanted to keep from feeling too cold, or too hot... because neither feels very good.

The Stoics were basically very... stoic. Life is not about feelings at all. Life is about rational thought. You must follow reason and logic and remain completely unmoved by your feelings inside or your circumstances outside. (Something tells me there were more Epicureans running around than Stoics) The Stoics didn't even enjoy being stoic, the two founders of the Stoic school even took their own lives.

These two mindsets weren't new then and have continued on under many names and behind many defenses since Athens. They were upside down then... and they are upside down today. Both are deeply focused on self... and by extension leave little room for any real love.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 - History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.

Then Paul shows up.... and he carries a message of truth that IS different. To an upside down world, Paul's message sounds... totally upside down!  Some were saying, "What would this idle babbler say?" (Acts 17:18)

Paul, the babbling idiot, had come to tell how God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him would not perish, but have eternal life. Paul explained that the Son he was talking about is Jesus... and the proof of the message is that after Jesus was unjustly killed, God raised Him from the dead. (Yes, this is an unprecedented event... which is why it is suitable proof of something happening that was totally unique.)

Later in his life, Paul sends a letter to some of the neighbors in that same area. He writes, “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." - 1 Cor. 1:18 When he wrote this, it could be that Paul was remembering when he was called a "babbler" by the idea havers and the thought thinkers of Athens.

Does the gospel seem upside down to you? Does the message of the cross of Jesus Christ seem backwards? If so, check your perspective. Are you standing in the world... or among those who are being saved?

After hearing Paul, the idea havers and thought thinkers said, "We shall hear you again concerning this." But it never happened. They didn't hear Paul again... perhaps they weren't truly listening in the first place. This is how the idea havers and thought thinkers of Athens missed out on the REAL truth.

The busy world of idea having and thought thinking can be a wilderness. In the wilderness, it's easy to get turned around, inside out, and upside down. Sometimes we may feel sure of ourselves or think that we are correct... and be walking away from the Outpost, instead of towards it. Being confident is not the same as being right.

... Maybe I'm just babbling...

John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him would not perish, but have eternal life.”

2017: Clarity

The word I've been seeing, hearing, sensing, and challenged by for 2017 is the word, "clarity."

World Magazine suggests giving
the gift of "Clarity" for 2017

It started popping up everywhere a few weeks ago. It seemed I couldn't get through a conversation or article without hearing that word spoken. In December, World Magazine chose that word - of all words - to be front and center on their sales wrap for an issue. Like.. give the gift of clarity for 2017. I was sent an article that spoke about the power and value of clarity. An email devotional referenced clarity as something important for the coming year. Yes. I believe it is.

That's a flickering image of what brought this word, circumstantially, to light. But what does this mean when our boots are on the trail?

The meaning of clarity for us this year is made more precise in a list of words that people I know have felt are significant; deliberate; diligent; unity; boldness; abundance; peace; redeemed; listen; and integrity. Each word carries it's own story and focus. As we move forward, I'll share more about what clarity means for life at the Outpost.

In addition to those words, there are passages of scripture and a picture that has meaning for this season. Second Corinthians chapter 5 recounts how Jesus came with a ministry of reconciliation and that ministry is for us as well. As Jesus' people, we have a ministry (read: we are to bring the gift of...) reconciliation. We are to be ambassadors for Jesus, drawing people back to the Father. Another passage is Psalm 91. Psalm 91 declares God's goodness, protection, and faithfulness in the midst of struggle. Psalm 91 tells us who God is... and invites us to join the original psalmist in making the same declarations.

Finally, a picture. A friend felt this impression put on his heart for this season. He saw a naval battle group in the ocean coming against a single naval re-supply ship of an opposing navy. The single ship cannot hope to stand against a battle group. We see this as a call to walking in greater unity - each person bringing their own gift for the benefit of the whole body. Every ship matters. Even the mighty battle group could not battle for long if there is no re-supply ship nearby!

This image of the navy is a lot like life at the Outpost. The Outpost would be a lonely, desolate, place... and definitely not a refuge if there were only one person living and working here. It takes a cohesive, committed, team to establish a place of refuge. It takes family.

Let's grow more clear together this year. Clear on who God is (Psalm 91); Clear on who we are (John 15:5 - I am the Vine, and you are the branches); Clear on what we are about (2 Cor. 5:16-21)


Not one should be lost...

Welcome to the Outpost

An outpost is an isolated or remote branch of some larger group. Whenever I hear that word, I picture a little group of log buildings at the end of a wagon trail and at the beginning of a great wilderness.

There is always a group of people that stay at the outpost. For them, the outpost is home. There is also a stream of people that come through the outpost. These people are trying to reach a destination beyond the outpost, but they will never reach their future home if they do not first reach the outpost. These people stay for a season… a day, weeks, or even years, but in due time they move on to their destination. 

Everyone who finds refuge at the outpost receives what they need to complete the next leg of their journey. However, these refugees bring something needed for the little community to both thrive and serve. You see, God cares for the people who call the outpost home and they have needs too. 

Sometimes, people at the outpost learn of one lost in the wilderness and in great need of help. The outpost assembles a rescue team to locate them and bring them to safety. We all know what it’s like to be lost. No one should be lost. 

Pedee is an outpost. For many, Pedee appears to be the end of the trail. But we know there is a dynamic community of pioneer-spirited people that call this area home… we are the residents at the outpost. Over the years we’ve seen a flow of people that come to and through Pedee Church; these people each contribute something and receive something during their time. This is the mark of a healthy outpost. Also, we know there are people who are lost in the wilderness around us… and each of us has been lost before. *

Jesus is our example. He came into the wilderness to seek and save the lost… you and me. Even more… He’s made us family. Now, Jesus sends us on mission. His mission, into the wilderness from our assigned outpost. That not one would be lost.** 

Welcome to the Outpost - On Youtube
* (1 Cor. 12:12; Isaiah 53:6)
** (John 3:16; Romans 8:17; 2 Peter 3:9) 

Abide

Abide. It was the word of the year for 2016. Every year for the past many years, God has gently put a word or phrase in my heart for each calendar year. It seems that almost without exception, I spend the year discovering my deep need to see that "word" expressed in my life. Late in the year, and in the year following, it often seems that I begin to see the reality of what God put in my heart.

Abide.

There are two expressions of this word. The first is to dwell... to live... in a place. To find refuge and comfort. To have a home. To spend time. David conveys this at the end of his famous song we now know as "The 23rd Psalm." He sings, "And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." If we are to abide with the Lord or in the Lord... we must spend time with Him. We can do this as we ingest His word from scripture. We do this in prayer, in worship, and in living as His hands and feet in service.

It's a battle... to abide. Because spending time with Jesus means we must lay aside time with other things. Our time bank fills and empties at a predictable rate and it's easy to write more checks against our time balance than we have available to spend.

Time spent equals relationship growth. Where will you invest this limited resource?

The second expression of abide relates to the idea of boundaries. When my children play a game, they are to abide by the rules. If one child does not abide by the rules another child is quick to point out the discrepancy... and seek to rectify the offense... which if often a loud process. Our culture tends to eschew anyone that doesn't abide by the rules (especially the ones that we personally hold dear) and equally eschew the rules themselves when our desires are hobbled by them.

Here's the thing: Even when my children don't understand why I'm setting a boundary for them, I expect them to obey. At the very least family peace depends on it, but it's also true that their very lives may depend on their willingness to obey. "Stop!" might sound sharp... but could save the life of child that doesn't see the danger of fast moving cars nearby.

God's boundaries are good. David sang about this as well, "The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me." Psalm 16:6. AND again in Psalm 19:7 "The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;" David lived on both sides of the line... and his experience taught him that God's boundaries are very, very good.

As this year closes and we look toward the next, I want to experience the peace, joy, and power... of abiding in the Lord. I want the same for you, too.

Turn Turn Turn

So... it's been a while.

Not only does this pride now live in a different area, there are also more of us! We're a family of six now.

Since my last post; I've shot a few more fish, relocated, acquired a small tractor, a dozen or so chickens, some goats, some sheep, a cat, and a new way of life.

A couple of comments

1)  It's been a long time since I've posted anything. I've actually shot a few more fish and have some pictures I'd like to post as some point. I went on a dive in Oct '08 off the Oregon coast that easily rivaled anything I saw in Belize. I was diving a kelp forest with enormous schools of sea bass, amazing visibility. Two harbor seals passed nearby... stopping to wonder what I was.  I went on another dive earlier this week.... we ended up diving the jetty at Newport in somewhat poor conditions for about 1 hr. I walked away with a single black rock. My dive buddy got two. On the whole it was a good day though because it was the day our lives were preserved by a busted zipper, a flat wheel-barrow tire, and a broken buckle. The take home lesson: Never resent providential interruptions... especially when they don't fit your schedule. 

2)  I am really thankful that God is continually growing us. Looking back at things I've written, it is fun to see what life-themes have carried on and matured and which have wained. It's exciting to see that I'm a different person than I was. 

3)  Just as birth is a process that appears cyclical and endless, so the world seems to move on in peace and war, richness and famine. But just as labor almost imperceptively crescendos to birth a new baby, God is birthing something through creation. The cycle of conflict and resolution is slowing growing. At some point, the cycle breaks and everything changes... and what seems impossible in one moment changes everything forever in the next. 

Greenling

I've always wondered why a beautiful brown-red spotted fish would be called a "greenling" as it happens my dive buddy shot one... and the inspiration for the name became clear once we started cleaning the catch!

Newport Dive

Here's my stringer of fish. Today I shot 5 perch and a black rock fish... and there was another that somehow wiggled off the shaft before I could grab it.

As we got into the water, a grey whale was playing in the harbor. It kept breeching... came almost all the way out of the water several times. It worked its way across in front of us (boaters stopping to watch), and then headed back out to sea.

The water is very warm (with a heavy wetsuit) and visibility varied a lot as the tide changed. Overall visibility was probably averaging 8 to 10 ft. The water was clear enough that it was still light at the bottom of the channel (~ 30 ft).

We got in the water after low tide. With a 7 ft exchange, it was quite a fight to not get washed back into the harbor. (Remember that for future dive planning!) Once the tide began to stabilize near high tide. Conditions improved a lot and I could relax enough to get some deeper dives in.

This dive was the most fun of the free-diving I've done so far.

A First Christmas

He is 1 month and ~5 days old. He was born right here at home, and we are very happy to have him. He is a boy through and through... even at 1 month. He doesn't cry unless he's got something to cry about... but he's not quiet. He spends his time grunting and snorting and escaping from his swaddle. He will be the "Cub" for a while. His sister is now the "Little Lion".
She has earned the title with her ferocious growls. She and I practice growling together regularly :-)... it's very cute. The Cub is still figuring out what this place is all about... so far his favorites include mommy's milk and sleeping. He doesn't see any value in baths or diaper changes thankyou... none at all. 

The Little Lion and new Cub

The Little Lion is learning to love the new cub. Though she's still not completely sure what he's good for... she knows he's got to be good for something.
We're all glad you're here baby!

Everything is a Toy

The Cub knows no limit when it comes to finding toys. She really likes playing with the Lioness' stethescope and when given the opportunity it happy to try checking her own blood pressure with a leg cuff.

Why are there stethescopes and blood pressure cuffs in my living room? It might be more normal at my house... but today the reason is because the Lioness had a meeting with our midwife. Betty will be helping us with the birth of our next baby... at home.

We've explained to the Cub that soon she'll have her own baby to take care of and play with... but I don't think she's put it all together yet... or will until she hears her little brother cry for the first time. Even then it might take a little bit before she realizes that he's a permanent addition to the pride. I don't think it will take her too long to realize that being a big sister has some perks. 

The Expedition Members

Me, Pete, Josh, and Brennan. A somewhat ordinary out-in-the-woods-photo taken in a not very ordinary place.

This is about 11 miles or so from the ocean in the coast range. A truly beautiful area that reveals mystery, begs questions, and offers few answers.

It was a very good trip. 

Descent

Here's a photo of Peter and I. I'm descending into the cave... it's about a 25 foot drop and the last 10 feet you're suspended on the rope before you reach the bottom of the first room. From there it's possible to climb... though it's much easier to have a rope to hold onto since it's still very steep.
In the end Peter was the extreme explorer... he slipped down into a muddy looking round hole (that I avoided because I was a having wimpy thoughts of death and despair) and located quite a lot more explorable space. In the end, we were left with a feeling that the cave isn't that stable... a lot of what we explored this time wasn't accessible a couple years ago on our first trip. That seems awfully fast for a cave to be changing.

 

Just in case you'd like to visit the cave we were exploring... here's a photo of the entrance. I wouldn't want you to miss it! Lucy (my black lab) spent all of three days running around in the mountains without a leash in sight (except briefly right here). Talk about a happy dog! 

The Trip

I took this low-res photo with my cell-phone camera. We're at the highest point for miles in any direction. This is just before sunset facing the ocean from 13 miles inland. Fog was rolling in the whole coast was buried under it. To my left as I took the photo is an abandoned fire watch tower. ~15 years these towers were still lived in during the summer. Fire watch made for a good summer job for college students who liked to really get away.
On this trip (this is the condensed version), I went camping with three other friends. Peter, Josh, and Brennan. Though we were here to explore some caves and some other interesting things in the area... which we did successfully, there are few moments that I can remember that match the experience I had the first night on the mountain. Laying awake in my sleeping bag, the air was perfectly still, and above me the stars were so close, so bright and so numerous that I felt that I was floating among them. The moon came up late (~2am) and emerged to shine through gathering clouds. We awoke inside a bank of clouds... in a soaking mist which continued the entire next day.
The second photo is Josh at our camp table (the base of the tower is behind him)

New Color

Ok, I've got a few posts to make... they probably won't end up being in chronological order... but some stories are worth telling.
I'll start with the latest. On the first day of October, I finished painting my house. It's been coming along for a while... and went much faster with the help the Laurance offered.

Our house has gone from the original blue with blue trim to stone grey with cream trim... the house looks much better and is much better protected from the weather!
The front door is a purple-black color. I sanded the shiny kick-plate down for a "brushed metal" look that is softer and works better with the door.
Now it't time to catch up on the things I put off while painting!
Next Projects might include: rebuilding the dog house. (adding insulation, storage, and a door and painting it to match the house)

This summer (mostly before I started painting) I also went on a couple of free dives and an amazing camping trip in the mountains with some friends. I'll try to add some photos of those too!

Cub #2

Yes, it's been a while... ironically, the more there is to talk about, the less time there is to talk!

Since my last update, my friend Matt has gotten married to Genna. (The last of my "single" friends is now married) . Now there are babies everywhere! One friend's baby was born this morning (a little girl). There are ~nine more on the way! They are due in July, September, twins in October, our next baby at the end of October, two in November, December, and January. (we can't reliably count them further out than ~9 months) There are other's too!

This next week, I'm going on an exploration / camping trip. I'll be returning to some vertical caves (with more rope than last time). It will be exciting to see if they open into a caves system or not (the odds are against it)