Voice Box

Jesus sees you

Judah and Lucy each have an icon of Jesus Christ and Mary and the Christ-child in their rooms (similar to the one pictured here).  Last night we were enjoying a little bedtime bonding.  Julie, Lucy, and I were all in Judah's bed with him talking and laughing.  Judah said a few times 'Daddy lay with you... Mama lay with you.'  Then he looked over at the icon and said 'Jesus right there.'  You may remember from a post in February that Judah and Jesus already have a special relationship (read that post here).  Last night after he said 'Jesus right there,' he said, 'Jesus sees you.'  How true.  We should listen to toddlers more when it comes to issues of our faith.

what would Jesus say to Christians today?

Tom Davis, President and CEO of HopeChest, wrote an article for beliefnet.com called 'Why Christians S**k.'  There's also an accompanying slideshow called 'How To Do What the Bible Says.'

Beliefnet, a multifaith news and information website, gets about 2 millions hits a month—and has 10 million email newsletter subscribers. So, it’s kind of a big deal.  I'd encourage you to read the article, then if you have a personal blog, consider writing a review or posting a link to the article, post a link on your Facebook or other social networking site, and email a link to the story to your family and friends (there's a way to do this directly from beliefnet.com).

volunteers and football players make a great team

Click here to read a story and watch a video about the Springs of Life Children's Center that Julie is a part of.  It's inspiring.

Father to the fatherless

Today's Christian wrote a great article about Tom Davis, President of HopeChest, and his ministry to orphans.  Read it.

a children's center for families at risk

My wife, Julie, recently took a position as the Executive Director of Springs of Life Children's Center in Colorado Springs.  Today there was a VIP lunch to let the community know what is happening at Academy and Unitah.  This location is surrounded by government-subsidized, low-income housing and the adjacent lot now sits empty where 2 years ago, an arson's fire burned down Castle West apartments, claiming lives and destroying a community.  In its place, a new thing is happening.  Springs of Life Children's Center has no limit on the number of children with state assistance, and they are reaching out to the high-risk, low-income families (mostly single-moms) in the area.  At the lunch today was about 8 NFL players, senators, congressmen, commissioners, business owners, non-profit and ministry leaders, and pastors.  Pastor Dan Finnegan and my wife, Julie, cast the vision for what this center will be and do for this community.  It's an exciting thing that we are glad to be a part of.  Our focus has been on 'making the communities liveable again,' here and around the world.  Continue to pray with us and consider ways that you can connect with Springs of Life Children's Center to see a community come to life.  Email Julie if you want to know more.

heroes

Two of my heroes are staying with us this week, Nastya Kulkova and Yana Kotashkina.  They have given the last few years of their lives to serving orphan children in and around their hometown of Kostroma, Russia.  By visiting children in orphanages weekly month in and month out, year in and year out, they have built relationships that are holistic, long-term, and redemptive.  By organizing and coordinating sponsorship, mission trips, and graduate programs, they are building healing and hopeful connections and opportunities.  Without our Russian and African partners and colleagues, who are living pure and genuine religion on a daily basis, we wouldn't have the same connection to the children we care about who are living alone so far away.  To explore how you and your community (church, small group, school, business, family) can get involved with Children's HopeChest to bless orphaned children in Russia, Swaziland, Uganda, Ethiopia, and South Africa, please email me.

finish the story...

I received this reaction to my post entitled, 'devoured.'  well said!

read the blog today. so sorry to hear that. gut-wrenching and heart-breaking, and i ache for the friends who lost him. thank god that's not the end of the story.

you might take comfort remembering that while this horrible thing has happened, Sasha is in the arms of a loving God. He is safe now--safer than he was here. He was robbed of a life on earth, but there is more to life on earth.

just thought you might want to finish the story . . . :)

devoured

I'm simply forwarding you a paragraph from one of my most trusted and respected friends and colleagues in ministry at Children's HopeChest, Yana Kotyashkina.  We cannot afford to forget that the Enemy is devouring children living in poverty and as orphans.  And orphans are close to the heart of God.  What will we do about that?  Where will we stand?  With whom will we stand?

I am writing with terrible news from Bui orphanage. 4 days ago Sasha Gulaiev was shot by a drunk man. He went to congratulate a boy he knew on the boy's wedding. He and 2 other graduates from Bui were sitting around the table with other guests. Then a drunk father of that boy with a gun came in and told them to go away. Then he made a shot in the floor and then to people..Sasha was killed.

back to the real world

I had a great vacation with my family.  I got to spend a lot of quality time with my wife, playing with my 2 year old son, and snuggling my 6 month old daughter.  We tasted and drank some great wine in the New York Finger Lakes wine region.  And we caught and ate some great walleye/pickerel on Lake Temagami in Northern Ontario.  The 40 hours in 3 days drive across the US threatened to steal the rest and restoration that we enjoyed on our 2 week vacation, but I'm trying hard not to let it.  We had a great time.

Now it's back to the real world or orphan care and Julie prepping for the Colorado bar exam.