Collision Course!

Many things cross your mind when someone you love calls you with the news they have been in a car accident. This was no different for me!

I received the call on October 12, 2006 at approximately 5 p.m. I was in St. Louis, my wife was in Holts Summit. She had been driving with Jayden and Zeke in the back seat. She called to let me know that she and the boys were fine but the first response was coming so she would call me back.

The next phone call I got was from my associate pastor. His question..."Which hospital is your wife in?" This obviously was new news to me and my concern grew great. I began to head home with concern, and yes, a little fear.

The news all in all was good. The boys were absolutely fine. Some great friends, John and Pat Stuckey, had the boys and had accompanied Stacey to the hospital. It was just a precautionary trip because of soreness in her back, neck and shoulders.

The whole deal was quite an emotional ride on the trip back from St. Louis. With much time and no phone reception it left me a little anxious to see my wife and boys.

I pulled up to the house at the same time John and Pat were bringing Stacey and the boys home. I was glad to hug Stacey (gently) and hold the boys. As we talked, Stacey told me the story of all that happened. The guy she hit was okay and even helped pull Zeke out of the car when Stacey could not get the door open.

I am thankful for the hand of protection the Lord placed on them. As you can see from the pictures, this was quite a collision.



Some of you may be wondering where the message is in this and I confess, I continue to search out and listen for those answers while being thankful for the safety of my family. Answers may or may not come but right now it is pretty simple...If you don't watch where you going you may run into something that will cause some hurt!

The other Vehicle

Jayden's Bed

Recently we decided to combine the boys into one room to:

1. get them on the same room and used to sleeping together
2. re-gain our guest room

In order to do this we had to figure out a bedding situation. Zeke was growing out of the cradle fast (maybe because he is in the 95% in the height category???). We originally had two cribs but one was un-repairable due to some damage in moving it around. We had one crib and two crib mattresses and decided to be creative. Jayden now has a "toddler" bed! Stacey and I designed a bed. I built it and she painted it. We were very pleased with the results but more importantly Jayden went right to it exclaiming, "ball.. ball"!

October '06 Newsletter

Chris' Craziness

Just the other day I was sitting in a restaurant with a good buddy. We hadn’t been able to visit in a long time, so we had a ton (that’s a lot) to catch up on and to share about how God is working in our lives. As we sat there, he told me about some ways he was being challenged and steps of faith he was taking in response to these challenges. I was overwhelmed with his passion. It was just pouring off of him. I rejoiced with my brother! After the visit I took some time praising the Lord for friends like this who continue to inspire and challenge me…perhaps with out even intending to.

One thought this man recently learned from his pastor specifically spoke to me as an answer to some specific prayers that I have been praying. The thought is a paraphrase from Exodus 31 in a study of the tabernacle. It says this, “Everything God tells us to do is a GUARANTEE that we can do it!"

You know, it is sometimes difficult for me to keep my mind off the “challenges” of being a missionary…even in the midst of so much celebration and rejoicing in the Lord’s handy work all around me. I have seen a year and a half of the Lord’s faithfulness in me and my family’s lives through prayer, finances and resources…and I still get doubtful. It’s not right. It doesn’t even make sense…it just happens!

Gods has very clearly informed me that I am where He wants me to be. Recently the Lord has told me that He is going to provide for Stacey and me to have a getaway. I don’t know how exactly, but I know it is going to happen!

What a joy it is to serve the Lord in this capacity. In this I realize there is a greater calling on my life. Jesus says in Luke 12:48, “to whom much is given, much is required”.

Stacey's Script

As for myself, I’ve been busy, busy, busy. Praise team, children’s choir, ladies Bible Study, playgroup. It seems that it all has been eclipsed by my push to get it all done. Whoops! Myfocus slipped. It’s so hard to 1. do the right thing and 2. keep my heart in the right place with the right attitude. What I’ve come to know this past week is this: the first thing doesn’t matter without the second. It won’t matter how skillfully I’m juggling a myriad of activities, even good ones, including Bible study. If my focus is ME and everything I’M getting done, instead of loving God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, then I’m not pleasing Him. And that is the goal: to please God. Not have a spotless house or all the laundry clean at the same time or be involved in every good thing that comes along. Those things are not evil or wrong, but first and foremost, my goal must be to please God by loving Him with everything I have.

"Watch!"

Jayden has discovered the appeal of being watched. Just the other day he did something silly. He must have thought I would like to see, either that or he enjoyed performing for his doting audience, because he kept saying “watch!” and then doing it again. And again. And again. I think we will get quite accustomed to hearing the boys say “watch” as they try to climb a tree or ride a bike. For now, though, I’ll enjoy hearing “watch’ then seeing him spin in a circle.

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

Zeke just keeps on rollin’ ! Until he lands against a wall…or a couch…or a toy. Then he lets us know how upsetting it is to be stuck. Poor guy! It’s so rough being a baby-but he’s growing fast. His latest accomplishments include eating baby food, sitting up by himself, and babbling to whoever will listen. Still waiting on that first tooth though.