Grace San Diego

In a few short hours I will be heading with my wife to celebrate our 8th Anniversary and Deanna's 2nd 29th Birthday ☺, to a small resort on a private island off the coast of Belize. Many of you saw Deanna win this $6k trip on a TV show a few months ago, as well as a new pimped out GMC Acadia that we have been driving for the past few weeks. Well, the time has finally come. We leave today and couldn't be more stoked about this trip. There are so many amazing activities that we will be able to enjoy including sailing, fishing, scuba diving (this area was Jacque Cousteau's favorite place in the world to dive), seeing Mayan ruins, and doing a tubing trip down a lazy river through the jungle, just to name a few. But there are three activities that I am most looking forward to: rest with my wife, taking in God's beauty, and capturing it all on camera. As I think on these three things, I have been reminded of how significant they are in my spiritual life.

First is the chill time. I'm looking forward to just "being." So often I find myself being pulled in so many different directions and I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. I think we all feel it. A while ago I realized a complete lack in my life to experiencing Sabbath, and I began feeling the need to research it a little more and try to make some adjustments in my schedule. However, I've always had this nagging sensation of guilt whenever I try to obey this part of God's "Big Ten," as we'll be discussing on Sunday mornings in just a few weeks. So for what its worth, I'm looking forward to enjoying some Sabbath this week and having some time alone, with my wife and with God in one of the most beautiful places on earth. No doubt, if I am intentional about resting and spending time with my wife and my God, I will come back rested. The trick will then be the same as it is for all of us; how we can implement this sacred moment into our busy lives? We know it's what we're called to. It's beyond a suggestion. It's a command. And sometimes it takes us getting away, getting stripped of all that clutters our lives, to really re-focus and allow ourselves to rest. We almost have to give ourselves permission. Our culture has told us that busy is better. The more you accomplish, the more successful you are. But God's word is clear that we can only do so much and accomplish so much in our own physical strength. He designed us to need rest. It's not a sign of weakness but a submission of our hearts to God.

The second thing I'm looking forward to is exploring God's wonder. If you have ever been scuba diving before, you instantly know what I'm talking about. (That is, if you got past any fears you might have of diving!) The wonder of what God has created underneath the surface is beyond words. In my mind, there is a very clear correlation with diving and our relationship with God. God is obviously beautiful on the surface, but do you know God beyond surface level? How much time do you take to "explore" your creator? The great riches of the world lay in the journey to the heart of God. There is depth to God that we will never know, but the deeper we go, the more beautiful He is and the more amazing life becomes. I want to invite you to join me on the adventure of exploring our God who admittedly loves to be explored. He describes Himself and His kingdom as a great treasure that we should give up everything we have to go searching for. To look out and see the endless ocean ahead and to explore the world, deep below the oceans surface, just gives us a tiny glimpse into how great God is.

Lastly, I can't wait to capture some of these amazing moments. I got a new Nikon D80 DSLR at the beginning of the year. For those of you who don't know cameras, its one of those big mamas that weighs too much for Deanna to lift, let alone take a shot with. But with it, I will be able to capture vivid images that will remind me to daily experience God's beauty no matter where I am. Don't get me wrong, I plan on soaking it all in and "living in the moment" (not "for the moment" as we just learned about a few weeks ago). So I'll create a photo journal much like the spiritual journal that I keep. I have kept a journal for a while now, and there have been occasions that I have needed to go back and remember. I want to remember what God has done in my life. I keep record so that I don't forget, in my humanness, how faithful He has been. Similarly, I want to capture this time away on my vacation, so I don't forget the beauty of God's creation, the blessing that comes from rest, and the gift He gave us in Him orchestrating Deanna winning this trip. We could never have afforded a vacation such as this, but God is so creative in how he blesses us and has once again proved faithful.

Well, the time has come for me to turn off my computer, shut down my email, and soak in some good ol' fashioned rest. I love this church, I love the staff, and I love my children, but it will be good to get away. I plan to re-focus. To pray. To rest. To love on my wife. To take in God's creation. To capture it through the lens of my camera and the pages of my journal. I hope that when I return and you see me next Sunday, you will be able to see it in my face. I will be refreshed from an awesome time with my wife and my God.

This article was featured in our July 2008 Newsletter.

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