Life in the Big Potato

my junior high school i played in this fountain once high school stadium episcopal church across from my elementary school As I survey the ground for ants Looking for a place to sit and read I’m reminded of the streets of my hometown How they’re much like this concrete that’s warm beneath my feet And how I’m all wrapped up in my mother’s face With a touch of my father just up around the eyes And the sound of my brother’s laugh But more wrapped up in what binds our ever distant lives But if I must go Things I trust will be better off without me But I don’t want to know Life is better off a mystery So keep’em coming these lines on the road And keep me responsible be it a light or heavy load And keep me guessing with these blessings in disguise And I’ll walk with grace my feet and faith my eyes Hometown weather is on TV I imagine the lives of the people living there And I’m curious if they imagine me Cause they just wanna leave; I wish that I could stay And to visit places from my pa...

Today was a great day. We worshiped together with our NorthStar fam, and Bennett brought an incredible message about our purpose in the church. After church we headed to the park for a little basketball and football with some friends. I am so not athletic but had fun trying. I took the leaf pics over in the Jensen's backyard. The fall in North Idaho is amazing, and I think L thought so too. Now I'm trying to decide what she should be for Halloween. Interestingly enough, a lot of people are suggesting a pumpkin.

It is officially Fall in Coeur d'Alene.  It has been for a week or two I guess.  The trees are amazing.  I forgot how colorful they are here.  The trees where I grew up quickly went from green to brown before blowing away.  Here they are lingering on the trees in explosive yellows, oranges, and reds against the ever present background of evergreens on the surrounding mountains.  We've also been blessed with some really bright sunshiny days to light up this arborific show. We will post some pictures soon.

I had a re-realization this morning.  What's a "re-realization"?  That's when you have the experience of realizing something that you already knew.  It is an encounter that feels like an epiphany, but its content is not entirely new. This morning I re-realized that whenever you learn something about God, HE is speaking to you.  Listen, I knew that God speaks, but I guess I somehow didn't make the connection between all my times of learning and his actual voice.  It is a subtle point so let me clarify.  I sometimes get down feeling like God has been silent.  I heap the blame on myself for my lack of discipline, lack of passion or whatever excuse I can find.  I haven't felt inspired, so God must not be speaking to me.  I begin to whisper things to myself like, "I can't remember the last time I felt like God was speaking to me," or "Why won't God give me some direction by speaking to me?" I've learned to go on in these dark seasons...

I'm trying to be more disciplined about posting sermons from NorthStar.  You can listen online or download them at the NorthStar Sermons Update Page . While you are there you can also check out NorthStar Church Updates Page , to get updates about the church. Enjoy!

Some people in Idaho will go to great lengths to get an early start on snowboard season.

She wasn't crying before I walked in.