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Catch a wave and...

That's our boy. First time on a surf board, first try and he's up...

We spent the summer Stateside and had a great time. We were at my parents home in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Surfing is one of the themes the church we attend, Nags Head Church , uses regularly. It makes a lot of sense.

One of the biggest parts of surfing is getting you and your board in sync with the wave. Once you get it moving you just need to stand up...

I couldn't do that. But our son had no problem. On this day the kids were learning in the white water break. In North Carolina this occurs after the wave breaks on the outer sandbar and then you have a second break. It's great for learning to surf because those who are learning can get a push at the right time.

If you've ever watched good surfers in poor conditions you will know that their is a lot of waiting for the right wave. This summer the surf has been even worse than normal. All the local surfers look forward to the hurricane season because it brings good waves!

Being God's people is a lot like surfing. Everything is easier when you are in sync with what God is doing and there are times when you have to wait for the right conditions.

Today we worshiped with the two churches we work with and it was great. There was a lot of love and harmony going around.

We caught the wave and we were sitting on top of the world.

Ephemeral

We just returned from nearly two months in the States. You wouldn't describe our stay as ephemeral. It was planned and so there was no longing to prolong. Plus it was vacation, a time apart that's meant to end.

But there are other things that you'd wish wouldn't end. Their beauty seems eternal. Then... they are gone.

There was a team of missionaries in Northwest Spain that shined as bright as the sun. With love and devotion they lived out the way of Jesus. The last family moved back to the States at the end of July. And so ended a beautiful thing.

As I sit here in our apartment contemplating the end of that team and the role and impact of missionaries, I realize on many levels this is all so transitory. By that I don't mean to say it is futile. I'm just feeling the truth that our efforts are small and our successes are very limited.

And at that very low point I return to a fundamental truth of missionary life, what do we have that was not given to us. We receive gifts and we give gifts. That's all we can do.

So I weep for the end of that precious team, for they were so generous. May the God we serve take their offering of time and love and finish the work he started through their ministry. We are weak but he is strong.

And may each of those team members grow and prosper where they are now planted.