Dear Friends,
I love what Bill Johnson says: "Thanksgiving can not coexist with depression". Some say they are grateful 2011 is over. I say thank you Lord for your grace, provision, and many blessings in 2011, and we look forward to more in 2012. Carlene and I are very grateful our son Matthew, who returned from two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan traded his his Marine combat engineer hat for new one as a student in architectural design school. Many of you prayed for Matthew and this Sunday evening we'll meet at 4 PM for our potluck and Matthew will do a meet and greet before he leaves for San Diego later that evening. Worship will begin at 6 PM.
We are returning to the Troutdale House for Our Worship at the River gatherings until the summer.
4 PM Potluck Meal
6 PM Worship
(remember, we will not meet at the Phonics Factory school)
These are a few of our most favorite and thankful events of 2011:
In January I experienced a life changing gathering with leaders from four cities in Vancouver British Columbia and with teaching from Al Houghton.
Through the generous and unexpected provision of our house church folks, Carlene and I returned to Korea for 10 days in February to minister in five cities. We were excited to reconnect with Ye Young, a North Korean refugee we first met in 2005. She is now married and is beginning a new Ministry of intercession and worship focusing on North Korea. I will say it once again... my friends in Korea were more excited to see Carlene again than me. I'm not surprised.
In March I travel to the tsunami traumatized country of Japan for a series of meetings in Tokyo and Okinawa. I connected with a team from Franklin Graham's Samaritan Purse organization as they helped people rebuild their lives and joined with a Japanese pastor to worship and pray at "ground zero".
Early in the morning on April 14 we received a phone call from Afghanistan from Matthew. All he said was: "I'm waiting for the chopper". This was the highlight of the year.
We continued to enjoy the creativity and release of new songs and freedom in our gatherings at Worship at the River. We are committed to encouraging to sing the song God has written on our hearts.
We are blessed to have relational connections with groups large and small throughout the Pacific Northwest. We meet regularly with The Feast, our friends in Victoria BC, and always enjoy their annual retreat on Vancouver Island. We gathered in October in vantage with many of these leaders to worship and support one another.
In November Carlene and I traveled to New Delhi India to work with Rodrick Gilbert and his Ministry team. Once again we were grateful for the Holy Spirit's revelation as he orchestrated people, time, events, and travel. We will host Rodrick later this year. Full Report Video and Picture Links
We bless you in 2012... let's make it filled with thanksgiving!
