The Salazar 2009 vacation odyssey has come to an end. We traveled on Highway 70 through Kansas, Colorado, into Utah. Then we travelled Highway 80 through Utah, Nevada and California. Highway 5 north through California to southern Oregon. East on several 2 lane highways through Idaho and Wyoming. Back to Highway 80 through Wyoming, Nebraska, a little bit of Iowa, Highway 29 south back to Missouri. We visited Kathy's parents, sister and niece in Colorado Springs, we also visited with her brother Kent and his family and my sister Lori and husband Dave in the Sacramento area. We spent several days in Medford, Oregon, with our daughter Aimee, husband Jason and our granddaughters and grandson. We body surfed waves in Santa Cruz, California, watched Chinook salmon run the Rogue River in the mountains above Medford and white water rafted the Snake River just outside of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I had never seen a moose in the wild before, until last week. Wow...
We live in a beautiful country. The desert was in bloom, mountains still had fresh snow on them, and Jackson Hole, Wyoming has got to be one of the most spectacular parts of the West. I'm not so sure that our 3 teenagers totally appreciated the wonderful geographic sights. Overall, they did great with all the miles we traveled. We had occasional melt downs, but it all worked out okay. We really gave the DVD player in our van a workout.
We are so blessed to live in this country. We can travel in complete freedom, never having to show identification, or tell anyone where we are going, or why. More than once I found myself thanking God for His bountiful blessings on us. We have so much to be thankful for.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Father's Day 2009
I talked with my dad today, wished him a happy Father's Day and then spent most of the time talking with mother. My dad is 89 and can't hear very well. He was never able to adjust to hearing aids, so talking with him for the past few years has been very difficult. There is so much I would like to talk with him about, but it is almost impossible.
He gave us a scare last week. His lungs filled with fluid and he was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia and congestive heart failure. He is home today, weak, but recovering. The doctor told my mom he will not recover fully because his body is tired, and he cannot handle any procedures that will strain his heart. Even though she didn't say the exact words, I could hear her telling me that this is probably the "beginning of the end."
A couple of weeks ago we were in San Jose, my birthplace, on vacation. We stopped there specifically to show my children where I grew up. When I was one year old, my parents purchased a brand new home in a new part of town. They were small homes, but to a young child, I remembered a huge yard and a big house. I had a wonderful upbringing there. My dad worked hard, but had plenty of time for his children. I always had a tremendous sense of stability, calm and peace because of him. He taught me by example, letting me work with tools to accomplish tasks, showing me how to care for our year, observing him do things that I needed to learn. He has the unique skill to figure out how to fix things, or make things, with materials that are easy to get and inexpensive. Learning this from him has been invaluable for me. As we pulled up to our old house, I didn't recognize it at first. It was so small, the yard was small, and it was so run down. When we lived there, it was always in perfect shape. In spite of the condition of the house, so many memories welled up in me. I hope that some day my children will pull up in front of their childhood homes and have the same great memories.
I have been blessed with a wonderful father. I love him so much. He may not be with us much longer, but he is ready to see his Father. Happy Father's Day, dad.
He gave us a scare last week. His lungs filled with fluid and he was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia and congestive heart failure. He is home today, weak, but recovering. The doctor told my mom he will not recover fully because his body is tired, and he cannot handle any procedures that will strain his heart. Even though she didn't say the exact words, I could hear her telling me that this is probably the "beginning of the end."
A couple of weeks ago we were in San Jose, my birthplace, on vacation. We stopped there specifically to show my children where I grew up. When I was one year old, my parents purchased a brand new home in a new part of town. They were small homes, but to a young child, I remembered a huge yard and a big house. I had a wonderful upbringing there. My dad worked hard, but had plenty of time for his children. I always had a tremendous sense of stability, calm and peace because of him. He taught me by example, letting me work with tools to accomplish tasks, showing me how to care for our year, observing him do things that I needed to learn. He has the unique skill to figure out how to fix things, or make things, with materials that are easy to get and inexpensive. Learning this from him has been invaluable for me. As we pulled up to our old house, I didn't recognize it at first. It was so small, the yard was small, and it was so run down. When we lived there, it was always in perfect shape. In spite of the condition of the house, so many memories welled up in me. I hope that some day my children will pull up in front of their childhood homes and have the same great memories.
I have been blessed with a wonderful father. I love him so much. He may not be with us much longer, but he is ready to see his Father. Happy Father's Day, dad.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Is This A Little Glimpse of Heaven?
We spent Sunday afternoon in the mountains above Medford, OR. It was beautiful, at times awesome, and I thought how fortunate the people are who live in this area. I could live here very easily, perhaps too easily.
Today and tomorrow we are in Jackson Hole, WY. As we turned the last corner on Teton Pass, the Jackson Hole valley came into view. It was an incredible sight. The Tetons behind the valley, dark green mountain hillsides come right down to the town. The Snake River, very visible in the valley. Green is everywhere, the sky filled with clouds ringed a perfect picture. We pulled over, took some pictures and enjoyed the view. I could really live here. People who live here, live in a wonderful part of the earth. I can't imagine ever getting tired of the view.
I wonder if this might be a little glimpse of heaven? Obviously the town has been commercialized, but it seems like they've done a very good job of trying to keep the landscape as pristine as possible. If God's creation here on earth could be this beautiful, what must Heaven be like? And yet the Bible seems to indicate that Heaven will far surpass anything we can imagine. Looking at the scenery here, and being "wowed" by it, Heaven will be unbelievable. For now, we'll enjoy this place, and dream about living here.
Monday, June 15, 2009
God Is So Creative
Yesterday, after attending Aimee & Jason's church, we drove out of the valley into the mountains that surround Medford. We followed the Rogue River for quite a while and took a short hike to some beautiful water falls. Then we stopped by a fish hatchery on the Rogue River where salmon are collected and their eggs harvested. We didn't realize until we got there that the Chinook salmon run has just started. Chinook can be 50 pounds or larger and are spectacular fish. We watched several fish jump in the river and watched them run up the fish ladder in the hatchery.
At the hatchery there is the story of salmon that run this river. At different times of the year, Chinook, Coho and Steelhead salmon return to their birthplace. The amazing thing is that after these fish hatch, they go down the river to the ocean. They live in the ocean for several years and then find the exact river and start their spawning run. Not only do they find the exact river, they return to the exact spot in the river. When you consider this detail, you must acknowledge Gods creativity. Even though I am a fisherman, and have fished for salmon in one of Oregon's rivers outside of Corvallis, I was glad to see that none of the salmon fisherman that were fishing near the hatchery caught any of these magnificent fish. For the moment, all of us were mesmerized by the idea of what they do and why they were back to the hatchery. God is so creative.
At the hatchery there is the story of salmon that run this river. At different times of the year, Chinook, Coho and Steelhead salmon return to their birthplace. The amazing thing is that after these fish hatch, they go down the river to the ocean. They live in the ocean for several years and then find the exact river and start their spawning run. Not only do they find the exact river, they return to the exact spot in the river. When you consider this detail, you must acknowledge Gods creativity. Even though I am a fisherman, and have fished for salmon in one of Oregon's rivers outside of Corvallis, I was glad to see that none of the salmon fisherman that were fishing near the hatchery caught any of these magnificent fish. For the moment, all of us were mesmerized by the idea of what they do and why they were back to the hatchery. God is so creative.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
The Call
It's Saturday morning and I'm writing from the Rogue Valley in southern Oregon. Our oldest daughter, Aimee, is the children's pastor at Bethel Church in Medford, OR. We are enjoying our visit with Aimee, her husband Jason, Madelyn, Elise and JJ. Geographically, this is a beautiful part of the state. Yesterday we toured their church building. It is on one of the hills that surround the valley and the view is quite spectacular. Bethel is a wonderful, growing church and Aimee and her family plan on putting down deep roots here. They moved here from a very difficult church situation in northern California and I am so happy that they are happy and filled with such optimism for the future.
The hard thing about ministry is that inevitably, a lot of distance separates families. Later this summer, Josh and Kelly (our second son), will leave for two years in South Africa. Aimee and her family live in Oregon and our oldest son, lives in Springfield, MO. With us in St. Louis, visiting our children and grandchildren means travel. Our parents live in Colorado Springs, CO, and Columbus, OH. For our three oldest children who are involved in full time ministry, they are the 4th generation of ministers. My grandfather and Kathy's grandfather were pastors. Kathy's dad is a pastor, Kathy, her brother Kent, and I are pastors, and now our three oldest are all full time ministers. On this vacation, we have been able to visit Kathy's parents and sister in Colorado Springs, her brother Kent and his family in Sacramento, CA and now Aimee and her family in Medford, OR.
I know that all of us wish we could live closer together. But would any of us trade what we're doing for less distance? I doubt it. There is a "call" to ministry that will not let you do anything else. I don't know how many times I have decided it was time to do something else, only to realize that I could never set aside the "call." So for now, we relish each moment that we have together, we take advantage of technology to exchange pictures, web cam images, telephone calls and emails, and know that all of us are doing exactly what we are supposed to be doing.
The hard thing about ministry is that inevitably, a lot of distance separates families. Later this summer, Josh and Kelly (our second son), will leave for two years in South Africa. Aimee and her family live in Oregon and our oldest son, lives in Springfield, MO. With us in St. Louis, visiting our children and grandchildren means travel. Our parents live in Colorado Springs, CO, and Columbus, OH. For our three oldest children who are involved in full time ministry, they are the 4th generation of ministers. My grandfather and Kathy's grandfather were pastors. Kathy's dad is a pastor, Kathy, her brother Kent, and I are pastors, and now our three oldest are all full time ministers. On this vacation, we have been able to visit Kathy's parents and sister in Colorado Springs, her brother Kent and his family in Sacramento, CA and now Aimee and her family in Medford, OR.
I know that all of us wish we could live closer together. But would any of us trade what we're doing for less distance? I doubt it. There is a "call" to ministry that will not let you do anything else. I don't know how many times I have decided it was time to do something else, only to realize that I could never set aside the "call." So for now, we relish each moment that we have together, we take advantage of technology to exchange pictures, web cam images, telephone calls and emails, and know that all of us are doing exactly what we are supposed to be doing.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
58 Degrees
I think this vacation is partly a Homecoming Tour for me. Today we spent the day on the boardwalk and beach in Santa Cruz, CA. The summers between my last two years of high school were largely spent at Santa Cruz, Capitola and other places where 3 friends and I surfed and fished. We were true beach bums for those two summers. Today the water temperature was 58 degrees and the air temperature was about 70. Sam, Shawn and I had a great time body surfing 3-5 foot waves. At one point Sam got caught in a rip tide and started to get farther out than he and the lifeguards were comfortable with. Just about the time the lifeguard took off his tee shirt and started to put on his fins, Sam was able to touch bottom and come in. Whew, scary for a moment.
The ocean has a steady rhythm. In, out, in, out. Much like our heart beats, steady. Another aspect of the ocean is that you never get tired of seeing it. It is so much larger and awesome than our everyday lives that it is constantly overwhelming. I have talked with people who live at the coast and have views from their homes of the ocean. They all say the same thing. They are constantly awed by it. Why else would people build on land that is unstable, and take the chance of their homes falling into the ocean. On our honeymoon, we stayed at an inn right next to one of the Santa Cruz beaches. We left our windows open at night so we could hear the ocean waves as they beat their steady rhythm. I think the ocean reminds me of the awesomeness of God. So big, so overwhelming, and yet approachable. I think sometimes we only get our feet wet or wade up to our waists in God, much like we do with the ocean. We get afraid of being swept away, or of the unknown in God. Oh God, let me fearlessly submerge myself in you. Overwhelm me with Your glory.
The ocean has a steady rhythm. In, out, in, out. Much like our heart beats, steady. Another aspect of the ocean is that you never get tired of seeing it. It is so much larger and awesome than our everyday lives that it is constantly overwhelming. I have talked with people who live at the coast and have views from their homes of the ocean. They all say the same thing. They are constantly awed by it. Why else would people build on land that is unstable, and take the chance of their homes falling into the ocean. On our honeymoon, we stayed at an inn right next to one of the Santa Cruz beaches. We left our windows open at night so we could hear the ocean waves as they beat their steady rhythm. I think the ocean reminds me of the awesomeness of God. So big, so overwhelming, and yet approachable. I think sometimes we only get our feet wet or wade up to our waists in God, much like we do with the ocean. We get afraid of being swept away, or of the unknown in God. Oh God, let me fearlessly submerge myself in you. Overwhelm me with Your glory.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Remembering Home
Today we drove through San Jose, CA, on our way to spend a couple of days at the ocean at Santa Cruz. I wanted our adopted children to see the 2 houses where I grew up. I was one year old when my parents bought a brand new tract home in the middle of a bunch of prune orchards. People told them that they were crazy for buying so "far out of town". They were told they would never get their value out of their house. Today the city goes out for miles well beyond where this house sits. I remember our huge front lawn where we played football and baseball. The backyard went on forever, and backed up to a creek that provided loads of fun in the summer when it had pools of water in it. Today was a real reality check. The house was small, run-down and the yard front and back, was tiny. I remember the care that my dad took with the house and yard. None of that care showed today. It was still an emotional encounter, however, because a ton of wonderful memories flooded my mind. I didn't really see a run-down house, but a warm, safe and comfortable home where love and care were shared on a daily basis. We drove by a second house where I lived a short time before I moved out on my own and then we drove by Kathy's former house. It was amazing how many warm memories came out as we told several stories to our children.
Everything about these neighborhoods has changed. Almost everyone we knew have moved away. The saying "you can never move back home" is probably very true. There is not a good reason to consider it. But, driving through the neighborhoods was a wonderful experience. Tonight we are in Santa Cruz, on the coast. We had dinner in a restaurant on the Santa Cruz pier where we ate a few times as a family during my growing up years. Tomorrow we'll spend some time in the waves and on the boardwalk. I know more pleasant memories will get stirred up. I am so thankful for my parents, my homes, this area of California. All of this shaped me and prepared me for who I have become. I hope that when my children do the same kind of thing, they feel the same way. It is good to be home.
Everything about these neighborhoods has changed. Almost everyone we knew have moved away. The saying "you can never move back home" is probably very true. There is not a good reason to consider it. But, driving through the neighborhoods was a wonderful experience. Tonight we are in Santa Cruz, on the coast. We had dinner in a restaurant on the Santa Cruz pier where we ate a few times as a family during my growing up years. Tomorrow we'll spend some time in the waves and on the boardwalk. I know more pleasant memories will get stirred up. I am so thankful for my parents, my homes, this area of California. All of this shaped me and prepared me for who I have become. I hope that when my children do the same kind of thing, they feel the same way. It is good to be home.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Beauty And the Beast
Another stop on our vacation was San Francisco. When Kathy and I started dating, many of our dates were in SF. We loved the Fisherman's Wharf area, Ghirardelli Square, Union Square, riding the cable cars, and a coffee shop that doesn't exist anymore, Portofino's. Downtown San Francisco at Christmas was a magical place. We loved the views around the Golden Gate bridge and a favorite date was to take the ferry across the bay to Sausalito. We dated at a time when the political climate in the city was more moderate and the extremists had not taken over yet.
Today the views were spectacular, the sailboats were out in force, we watched a couple of giant container ships come in to port and tried to explain to our sons what Alcatraz Island was all about. Two things were sad to observe. One was the landscaping in the parks and open areas around Fisherman's Wharf and the Cannery. It is obvious that no one is paying much attention. What used to be immaculate flower beds and trimmed bushes, are now overgrown plots of ground that have not had any attention in quite a while. I suppose that this is a casualty of serious financial mismanagement in this state that has brought it to the brink of bankruptcy. The second sadness was to see what has happened to all the shops and stores that line the streets that lead from the wharf area to Ghirardelli Square. There used to be art galleries, clothing shops, upscale gift stores, luggage stores and other interesting places to window shop. Today it is "junk row." Tee shirts, imported trinkets and knock off purses... We didn't even slow down as we walked down the street.
Still, this is a beautiful city that has lost it's way. People struggling to include everyone, and missing everybody. The contrast is of the bay and the city, with all of it's contour and substance, and a political climate that level headed people have trouble understanding and living with. I think if I lived in San Francisco, I would never get tired of the views. But I know I would be drawn into the fight for righteousness. There are some wonderful spiritual battles being won here, but so much more needs to be done. This jewel of the Pacific has lost its lustre, for now. But it doesn't need to be that way forever. Lord, as we think about this stop on our vacation, help us to pray for this wonderful city and its people.
Today the views were spectacular, the sailboats were out in force, we watched a couple of giant container ships come in to port and tried to explain to our sons what Alcatraz Island was all about. Two things were sad to observe. One was the landscaping in the parks and open areas around Fisherman's Wharf and the Cannery. It is obvious that no one is paying much attention. What used to be immaculate flower beds and trimmed bushes, are now overgrown plots of ground that have not had any attention in quite a while. I suppose that this is a casualty of serious financial mismanagement in this state that has brought it to the brink of bankruptcy. The second sadness was to see what has happened to all the shops and stores that line the streets that lead from the wharf area to Ghirardelli Square. There used to be art galleries, clothing shops, upscale gift stores, luggage stores and other interesting places to window shop. Today it is "junk row." Tee shirts, imported trinkets and knock off purses... We didn't even slow down as we walked down the street.
Still, this is a beautiful city that has lost it's way. People struggling to include everyone, and missing everybody. The contrast is of the bay and the city, with all of it's contour and substance, and a political climate that level headed people have trouble understanding and living with. I think if I lived in San Francisco, I would never get tired of the views. But I know I would be drawn into the fight for righteousness. There are some wonderful spiritual battles being won here, but so much more needs to be done. This jewel of the Pacific has lost its lustre, for now. But it doesn't need to be that way forever. Lord, as we think about this stop on our vacation, help us to pray for this wonderful city and its people.
Friday, June 5, 2009
What if?
We're on vacation and yesterday we spent a lot of the day in the giant hot springs pool in Glenwood Springs, CO. Glenwood Springs is a wonderful mountain city at the base of the canyon that leads to Aspen. In 2000 we spent several weeks helping the local Assembly of God church through a period without a pastor. Kathy and drove from Grand Junction, 100 miles, on several Wednesdays and conducted a Bible study and worship time. We interviewed with their board members and eventually candidated for their open pastor position.
During the time that we spent going back and forth, I feel like the Lord gave me some very specific insight into what needed to happen in Glenwood Springs to see ministry take place outside the walls of the church. People who live in the mountains work hard, and play hard, and from a distance, it appears like spiritual ministry in towns like this is very difficult. However, I felt like there were some keys to breaking through some of the barriers. On the morning of our candidacy, I preached a sermon on "What if?" I laid out some of the insights that I felt God was sharing with me and tried to help the congregation see the possibilities.
In the evening service, I shared a short Bible study and then a district official chaired a meeting to vote on us. On Saturday we had a great question and answer session and I felt like over the weeks we had been involved, we had done everything possible to help this congregation know us. After an hour or so, one of the board members came into the room where we were meeting and told us that we had not been elected. I think I might of scared some of the people. I think that maybe they wanted a pastor that would maintain the status quo and not change much.
Yesterday we drove by the church, through the town and then back around the church property. What if?
During the time that we spent going back and forth, I feel like the Lord gave me some very specific insight into what needed to happen in Glenwood Springs to see ministry take place outside the walls of the church. People who live in the mountains work hard, and play hard, and from a distance, it appears like spiritual ministry in towns like this is very difficult. However, I felt like there were some keys to breaking through some of the barriers. On the morning of our candidacy, I preached a sermon on "What if?" I laid out some of the insights that I felt God was sharing with me and tried to help the congregation see the possibilities.
In the evening service, I shared a short Bible study and then a district official chaired a meeting to vote on us. On Saturday we had a great question and answer session and I felt like over the weeks we had been involved, we had done everything possible to help this congregation know us. After an hour or so, one of the board members came into the room where we were meeting and told us that we had not been elected. I think I might of scared some of the people. I think that maybe they wanted a pastor that would maintain the status quo and not change much.
Yesterday we drove by the church, through the town and then back around the church property. What if?
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Mountains
I'm sitting at a computer at the base of Pike's Peak in Colorado Springs. Mountains have a special allure about them. As we were driving towards the mountains yesterday, all of us in our van tried to be the first one to spot the mountains. There is a grandeur, and majesty about them. Because of the snow runoff and spring rain, Pike's Peak and the surrounding mountains are lush with greenery.
When God set up special meetings with Moses, He always held those meetings on a mountain. Jesus met his Father in mountain top meetings. And when a privileged few were allowed to come along, it was with the caution that they not see God himself, because His glory was too powerful for a human to see or experience. Even though mountains are not spiritual in themselves, there is a spiritual drawing to them, perhaps because they are some of God's special creations.
Later this week we're going to drive through the Rockies. When we lived in Colorado, I drove that drive many times, and never got tired of it. I'm looking forward to the drive again, because of the mountains, and because I always know God's presence during that drive.
When God set up special meetings with Moses, He always held those meetings on a mountain. Jesus met his Father in mountain top meetings. And when a privileged few were allowed to come along, it was with the caution that they not see God himself, because His glory was too powerful for a human to see or experience. Even though mountains are not spiritual in themselves, there is a spiritual drawing to them, perhaps because they are some of God's special creations.
Later this week we're going to drive through the Rockies. When we lived in Colorado, I drove that drive many times, and never got tired of it. I'm looking forward to the drive again, because of the mountains, and because I always know God's presence during that drive.
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