a few more colorado pics ...

hidden lake

glenwood canyon

alpine meadow

mount massive

awesome shot by my sister-in-law of the view at copper spur ranch ...

green means go

If you could make a difference for the Kingdom of God in your community, what would you do?  If you could share the love of Christ in a real and meaningful way with a particular person or group of people, how would you do it?

What if you were given a green light by God to share the love of Christ in a way that only you can? Would that change how you feel about evangelism and outreach? God has done everything for you and for your salvation in and through Jesus Christ your Lord. So now that you don't have to do anything, what are you going to do? What are the gifts and talents God has blessed you with? How can you put them to use in sharing the Gospel? Do you have a good “green light idea” to expand the Kingdom of God in your community?

Before we begin this venture, we must come to terms with the realization of the difficulty of the task - the effort and the sacrifices which it will demand. God never said it was going to be easy, but He did promise to always be with us. Keep calm ... and believe God's promises. Take your plans and dreams to the Lord, pray "not my will but thine be done." Spend time with Him in His Word. "He is your refuge and strength, an ever present help in times of trouble" (Psalm 46)

Oh, and by the way, if you think you'll be able to achieve your plan by your own skill and ingenuity, you had better give up right away. If you aren't prepared for a little discouragement and disillusionment along the way, if you won't be content with a small result for a big effort, then you might as well not begin at all.

But if you feel the Lord's calling in your life, if you know that this is what you are supposed to do, and are braced for the battle by prayer and the Word, how should you begin? Dear friend in Christ - simply begin. There are no magic words or special formulas that one must say at the beginning of a venture like this. If someone stands on the edge of a swimming pool and asks, “How do I begin to jump?” you simply reply, “Just jump. Take a deep breath and jump.”

Go on. Take a leap of faith. You’ve got the green light.

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unfinished business

The 1993 Orange Bowl was a devastating loss for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Even though the disappointment hurt, the loss was a catalyst for the next four years - the greatest period of time in Nebraska football history. The 1994 season was dubbed "Unfinished Business".

Men - we cannot get back the loss of hiking Mt Elbert in 2013. We have sent out a few pieces lately that describes that and what we gained and lost. But as we look to 2014, we too can say that we have "Unfinished Business" as an army of God's men. Not just for Peak Challenge 2014, but for the sake of the Kingdom here and now up through Peak Challenge 2014.

Coach Tom Osborne noted that team unity during the Unfinished Business season was "exceptional, the best we have ever had."  Grant Winstrom, star defensive end, noted:

"Guys took ownership of the program, because Coach Osborne made us feel like it was ours. When you feel like you have a stake in something, you're going to work a little bit harder for it. I fully believe that's why we had the success that we had, because we felt like it was our team. There's a whole different level of commitment when you feel like it's your blood on the line. You're not just a cog in the wheel. You're the engine that drives it."

It's time to own the "program".

Own the faith in Jesus Christ and the calling that God has given to you. We all have a stake in the Bigger Story. It is not just our blood and sweat and tears on the line, it is His. So as we prepare for Peak Challenge 2014 and Mt Elbert, unify as a team to build His Kingdom here and now. Prepare for Peak Challenge 2014 and boldly reach out to others to invite them into the experience.

"Nobody put themselves above the team. Nobody worried about what happened yesterday or what might happen tomorrow. The only thing that mattered was what you're doing today. If you can get guys to buy into that, then you have something special."

You all bought in at Peak Challenge 2013. God was there to rally us through the disappointment. He has great things for you to do for His Kingdom starting today. Go do them. Invite others into the journey. See you in July 2014.

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