Grand Canyon Trip 3 - Pictures

I know that a picture can never capture the grandeur of the Grand Canyon. That said, here a few of my favorites from the trip. Click on them for a larger image.

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God's creation is awesome!

Philip

Talking Sex

I came back Sunday night from a wonderful weekend trip to the Grand Canyon with my seventeen-year-old son. As I flipped through the Denver Post, I came across a Colorado Voices column written by Mark Thrun. It was given priority placement on the front page of the Perspective section. I was vexed and my mood was deflated.

Called Talking (shhh) sex, the column amounted to an attack on those who think it is a good idea to teach children to abstain from sex until married. A doctor by profession, Mark Thrun made himself out to be a professional and a concerned parent. A simple Google search of his name filled me in on what his real dog was in this fight. If you are interested then look for yourself.

That aside, Dr Thrun, parroted the old myth of “safe (unmarried teen) sex.” Just throw on a condom, (properly) and your worries are gone. Declare yourself emotionally ready and copulate like mad. Teach sex education in the schools and all will be well.

Yes, I am in favor of teaching children to abstain from sex until they are married but what I really want them to know is how dangerous sex can be. I want them to know that a condom, properly applied, will not protect them from STDs; it will not protect their heart either.

There is an epidemic of STDs amongst young people. Part of that epidemic is created by teens believing that as long as they use a condom they are safe. It’s time to admit that the condom evangelists are not telling the truth. It’s time to quit blaming those who advocate abstinence. It’s time to tell the truth of what sex was intended for and the blessing of sex in it’s proper place and the curse of it’s abuse.

Philip

Grand Canyon Trip 2

Saturday 10:30pm

What a great day!

Micah and I had breakfast in Tuba City and then drove through Moencopi. Both places have changed beyond my recognition in 29 years.

Then it was off to the Grand Canyon.

I can't even try to describe it's awesome beauty. We walked along the rim, amazed at what our eyes were taking in.

I will sleep so good tonight. I will look back on this weekend forever. I have enjoyed this time with my son.

Tomorrow we will head back to Denver. We will probably make some stops along the way.

Good times!

Philip

Grand Canyon Trip

Friday 10:00pm

I am in Kayenta, Arizona as I write this. My son Micah and I left Denver at 7:30 this morning for the trip of a lifetime. We go to the Grand Canyon tomorrow.

I have been there before, close to thirty years ago, when my wife and I lived on the Hopi reservation. We lived near Tuba City, Arizona in the village called Moenkopi.

Tomorrow morning Micah and I will have breakfast in Tuba and then drive about an hour and a half to the Canyon.

It's the trip of a lifetime because I get to do it with this son and this time in his life will never come again.

I will always remember it and I hope he will treasure the memories too.

I will get to be there when he has his first view of the vastness of the canyon. I remember my first look. It was the actual feeling of having my breath taken away. We will take pictures but they will never capture what the human eye sees.

So that is what I look forward to. But even more than that, I treasure three days alone with my son. I hope that will be a memory even greater than seeing the Grand Canyon.

Philip

Joy and Strength

Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because your strength comes from rejoicing in the Lord.”
(Nehemiah 8:9-10 Holman)

The way I usually read this verse is “the joy of the Lord is your strength.” As I read it this morning in the Holman version, it took on a deeper meaning. The joy comes from rejoicing and that leads to strength.

The rejoicing comes from focusing on God. I think a big part of it is thanksgiving. We remember all He has done for us and rejoice in that.

The opposite is when we focus on what we don’t have and how hard life is. The result is a bummer mood. We get down and soon weakness takes over.

I am thankful for so many blessings. I am thankful for a God who loves me and gave His life so I can be restored. I am thankful for the strength that He gives.

Philip

Gang Baby

It’s hard to raise kids these days. Just ask Joseph Manzanares and his former girlfriend.

Manzanares was arrested this weekend after a fight at the local video store. According to reports, he knocked over a computer, a magazine stand and was yelling obscenities at the girlfriend.

When the police arrived, they found out that the couple had been together for four years and have a child. The police asked why the couple were no longer together. The mother responded that they have “different ideas about how the baby should be raised.”

The officer asked what she meant by that. She responded that the two of them belong to different street gangs and “they could not agree on which gang the baby would claim.”

And I thought I had problems. My wife and I have disagreed many times during the twenty-six years we have been raising children but this is a new one.

Life is a surprise and some people are beyond dumb. This couple should be on Jerry Springer.

Here is the story.

Philip

Liar

I lied to my wife last week. She asked me if I had done something and I denied it. The thing at hand wasn’t a big deal but I thought an admission would lead to a conflict.

She was satisfied with my response but immediately I knew I couldn’t let a blatant lie sit. So what do I do? I tell another half-truth (lie). I admitted I did what she asked me about but coupled it with another thing that made it look better.

A day passes and I know I can’t let these lies go on. I write a note telling her the complete truth and let her know I am open to any questions she may have. She was gracious in accepting the belated truth telling.

I came across a book on telling the truth. One of the things it brought out is that sometimes lying makes things easier, or at least we think so. I lied to my wife because I thought the truth would bring conflict. Maybe it would have but it could have been worked through or maybe wouldn’t have at all.

Lying breaks down trust, especially when you are caught. It raises the question, “So what else have you lied about?” I know it makes me feel that way when I think someone isn’t telling me the truth.

I don’t want to lie and I don’t want to be a liar. I also don’t want to be someone who lies by telling part of the truth. As the saying goes, “the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”

Philip

Father Kills Daughter

I read this post today. I thought it worthwhile to add a link here as it seems this story needs to get out. The main story of a father killing his disabled daughter is from 1993. What makes it current now is that out on parole, the father who is celebrated by many as a hero, is trying to get a new trial. He wants to be exonerated of murder by claiming that killing his daughter was the right thing to do.

Read the following post and then follow the links in it. It will be worth your time. Then consider what you can do to shine some light in the darkness.

LTI Blog: Undisputed Fact: Robert Latimer is a Murderer

Philip

Fair in Everything

From my morning reading.

The Lord is fair in everything He does, and full of kindness. He is close to all who call on Him sincerely. Psalm 145:17, 18

Are you afraid to trust the Lord? I find that many people who have had unfortunate experiences in their youth with their parents, especially their fathers, have a reluctance to trust God.

In my talks with thousands of students, I have found a number of young people who have such an attitude problem.

Even the best of earthly parents, at times, are unfair and fail to demonstrate kindness. Yet how wonderful it is to know that our Lord is fair in everything He does and is full of kindness, and He is always close to all who call upon Him sincerely.

Notice that the Scripture promise quoted above is a categorical statement. The psalmist permits no exceptions, even when we are sure we deserved better than we received. Thus we need to claim the promise in God's Word by faith and live by it. Some day we will see events from God's side and recognize the fairness we could not see here.

We often see "as in a glass darkly," but God has perfect 20/20 vision. That's why the attitude of trust alone will help us overcome our feelings that God or the world, is unfair. Only then can we live a supernatural life of daily acceptance of what God sends our way.

Bible Reading:

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you! They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Psalms 145:8-12

From: Promises
A Daily Guide to Supernatural Living
by Bill Bright

These are encouraging words. I had a good Dad who reflected the nature of God. I learned a lot from him. I probably view my heavenly father in a positive way because of that. But even if not, I see the character of God in His word and my experiences in following Him have proved to me that He is good and I can trust completely in Him.

Philip