Week 2 At Cannon Beach

Prayer Team,

Well, we're back in Cannon Beach Oregon this week and it's been great! Ian Leitch, of the Herald's Trust in Scotland, is the conference speaker and has been giving some really encouraging messages about "TheReasonableness of Faith in Christ". He is a Bible teacher and an evangelist who teaches apologetics at several Bible schools in the US and inEurope. Sometimes it's really good to remember that God created us with a logical mind, and he's not asking us to throw it away so that we can have faith in him. He simply asks us to approach Him in faith, then His truth will satisfy our spirit AND our mind.

Our Tuesday night concert was a blast and we have had a really strong response from many individuals who have been encouraged by our ministry during this week.

My family has been able to join me for the week again, and it's been areally fun time for me as a parent to see my children thriving under the children's ministry here. My eleven year-old child seems to be coming into that stage of life where he is beginning to make some real life changing decisions of faith for himself. My nine year-old is just having a blast playing with so many really good kids that she's met here. She's quickly gone hoarse both weeks we've been here because of all of the fun. I love it because if I ask her why her voice sounds so funny she always answers very matter-of-factly in her tiny little muffled voice, "I blew out my pipes, yelling too much!"

Grandma has been visiting us here yesterday and today and she bought my 7 year-old a picture Bible. He carries it everywhere and shows the pictures to everyone he can get to listen to him. He seems so very proud of the fact that he's got a bible that he can understand and even read himself, with beautiful illustrations of the bible stories. Part of me feels a little bad for the people in the Coach House (the snack shop/ diner on the conference grounds), because they are his little captive audience, and he can be a little hard to understand. But, I have to tell you that something inside this father's heart hopes that this is a foreshadowing of things to come for him. I hope he always feels the boldness to approach others with thefact that there's a God in heaven that loves us so much that he made a way for even us, tiny little humans, to get to know him and to comprehend in some small way his deep love for us. I hope that as he grows that the true illustrations of the Bible, painted by the very words of God, will become a source of comfort, healing, course correction, and encouragement to him, as they have been for me.

I was called upon to sing a special song with my guitar for this morning's service, and I thought of my children and their excitement for the things ofGod. I thought about my own earliest memories of the conviction of God as he called me into ministry as a small boy. I also thought about Ian Leitch's messages dealing with the simplicity of the message of Christ as it confounds the wise. One song leapt out to me, and even though I had prepared to sing a different one, at the last minute I changed my mind.

Can you guess what song would speak to the simplicity of child like faith and of a God who has gone to great pains to approach us in such a way that we can all grasp his message?

I sang:

Jesus Loves me, this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
They are weak, but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

Doesn't that song pretty much say it all?

In The Park With Michelle Tumes

Dear Prayer Team,

WHEW!

What a weekend we had! Three outdoor concerts in two days! We knew it was goingto be a hot, sunny weekend in Vancouver so we donned the gray pants and black shirts (wow, the black shirt was not helping us to feel cooler that's for sure), I slathered a bunch of SPF 180 sunblock on my dome and we dove in! We asked for prayer for the stamina to be able to minister effectively all weekend, and I've got to say, besides Josh coming down with a fever with a temperature of 101 degrees (he's already pretty much recovered), God brought us through it with great energy and good attitudes. It always helps when you are singing for such helpful, and wonderful host churches and organizations.

Friday night was a really wonderful time as we had dinner over at Luke's place.The Zevenbergens, a really wonderful family of long-term Prayer Team members from the Sacramento area, are moving to the Great Lakes region and had a stop over that night. Luke's family welcomed them to stay with them and we had a nice evening visiting and singing a little mini-concert around an outdoor fire pit. The whole RESCUE crew was there. I brought my wife and three kids with me. Mac and his precious family were there too. It was an extremely beautiful night, and it was great to fellowship with such amazingly sweet people, plus we needed some R & R before the weekend ahead.

There were many highlights this weekend and I met many prayer team members at the concert venues. One of the things that sticks out to me was the concert on Saturday night in a beautiful park on a large gazebo/stage. We sang at the end of a full day of different Christian artists' called the "Summer Concert Series". Michelle Tumes was on right before us, which was personally a real thrill for me. I guess I had sort of thought that people would clear out after her concert, but they stayed and we had one of our best concerts.

After everyone had just about gone home and we were just about to start packing up and heading home, we stood talking to people under the tent where our table was. We performed a song for some friends that had shown up late and missed our first song (So Excited). One member had to leave for a wedding reception just minutes before, so Tim Lewis kindly stepped in to fill the part. Out of my peripheral vision I kept seeing a woman to my right and behind me moving around the whole time and I couldn't actually turn to see what was happening, but after we were through with the song, I found out that she was signing the words we sang to a deaf Christian woman that was there at the park. She seemed to be extremely blessed by the words. Then, the lady who was signing asked Josh if he'd let the woman hold her hand to his back so that she could feel the depth of his voice. The woman was blown away by how low he was singing! I came away from the whole experience feeling very happy to be in a place where I could see the power of the Word of God through song even when the tune could not be heard!

Thank you SO much for your prayers. It is obvious to us that your prayers are making a huge difference!

Recap of Cannon Beach Week 1

Dear Prayer Team,

Well, all votes are in, and we’ve decided that the Cannon Beach Convention Center is an AWESOME place to minister. From beginning to end, it was such a well-planned and organized event. Such a warm group of people gathered there, and we all walked away from that experience having gained many new friends, great memories and much heartfelt encouragement. We cannot wait to get back there in a couple of weeks for obvious reasons and also because we lost the basketball tournament by one lousy point! Come on guys, win one for “Ginger”!

We had a great time as we were able to spend some nice leisure time (in addition to all of the rehearsals) getting to know the individual members of RESCUE, and temporary team member, Tim Lewis. You’d think that we’d be pretty much up to date with each other by now, but we aren’t always in the kinds of situations where we can really chat. Most times we’re rushing to a concert, rehearsing, or setting up and tearing down equipment, which is fine, but it doesn’t allow for the relaxed time that is required to really get past the surface.

I have also been very blessed to be able to watch as “Over” has taken the lead by speaking to audiences, thoughtfully from his heart. From what I am hearing from those around RESCUE longer than I, his speaking ability has jumped to a new level as he comfortably shares personal testimonies of the good news of Jesus Christ. It is interesting that both times he has tried to step off the road, situations have arisen which put him right back up on stage. He is trying to decide if this means that God wants him to keep singing, or if he is only to fill the position until the right long-term singer can be found.

We finished our last performance of the week on Friday night. We sang a rousing version of the familiar song “Shout To The Lord” with the praise band led by Hinson Baptist’s Evan Irwin to close the session. Afterwards, a woman came up to us on stage and told us that she’d been separated from her husband for six years and that, along with the wonderful speakers, RESCUE had been a huge blessing to her. You see, she talked her estranged husband into coming to Cannon Beach with her, and through the preaching, teaching and music they’d found their way back together and that God was restoring their marriage!!! She led us over to her husband and we all shook his hand and wished them the best.

Don’t you just love being blind-sided by God’s blessings like that? These are things I tuck away, like cherished pictures. The pictures of loved ones who have passed on, birthdays, graduations, marriages, and newborns, are all deeply held memories that mark my existence on this plane; but the significance of a life newly yielded to Jesus, a decision for Christ, a resolve strengthened, marriage vows renewed, and a weighted, tired soul that has been rejuvenated is far beyond this life.

These are things that we carry with us for eternity.

Cannon Beach Week 1

August 11, 2005

Dear Prayer Team,

I am writing this as I sit in the van with my wife and kids making the well worn trip on the Oregon coast, from Cannon Beach to Seaside. I say "well worn" because we’ve made the trip to Seaside (and the nearest known McDonald’s for a late-night Diet Coke) a kind of nightly pilgrimage. Our days are so packed full of activities that the drive offers a quiet moment of reflection this evening. Normally, we would have had a RESCUE member or two in tow so that we can chat about the events of the day, but tonight they are all playing in a basketball tournament. Before I left the Cannon Beach Conference Center I saw my guys win their first round. I played with them when we stayed in a youth center in Sacramento and learned very quickly that I was in over my head. Josh can handle himself well on the court, Dustin’s an athletic guy, and "Over" and Luke are just WAY too good. I think our reputation on the court is pretty well covered even if I take some time away to write to you.

We are having an amazing time here, performing twice a day for each morning and evening speaking session. Our concert on Tuesday night after the evening session was one of the highlights of my year. Such a warm and responsive crowd! We tried out some new comedy stuff on them and their response was extremely positive. You could probably guess that with as new of a group as we are, and having two daily performances, we are using every last bit of music we know, and then some. It is forcing us to learn some more songs as a group, and "Over" has done his fair share of arranging on the fly. To cover all of the sessions we are putting in some pretty long rehearsals every day. It is a joy to be learning some more songs. It seems like every new song we learn gives us the opportunity to touch a different group of people, in need of an encouraging word.

I am so happy and blessed to have my family here with me, enjoying the wonderful surroundings, the incredible programs, and the fellowship with fellow Christian families, many of whom are involved in various ministries all over the West Coast. Balancing family time with the intense RESCUE schedule has been a challenge, but I think my wife and I were fairly well prepared for it. The ministry opportunities for RESCUE, the teaching sessions with the hilarious and inspirational Bill Butterworth and the encouraging messages of Rev. Wendell Grout, have made the experience well worth the effort as we hit the pillow at the end of another full day.

Beaverton Christian

Rescue Prayer Team,

What a great night we had tonight! I am still pumped up after having a really fun outdoor concert in my home town of Beaverton, Oregon, at Beaverton Christian Church. I felt very blessed to have many friends and family there tonight at the amphitheater. I really sensed that the Holy Spirit was tugging on many hearts tonight as we sang ,"Come As You Are", prayed, and then came in with "Rescue". The message was clear tonight that not only do we need to get stronger, cleaner, or better smelling before we come to God, but also the fact that HE does the saving, healing, and comforting.

I have a friend that was attending the concert tonight who is going through great difficulty in her life. It is beyond my little scope to be able to give her enough logic or passion to get through these times. It is great to know that all we have to do is hold out His Word through our words, songs and actions, and we can be agents of God's reconciliation, comfort, and healing.