"... nothing is easier than saying words and nothing more difficult than living them day after day."

The title of this blog is not my own, rather that of the author I mention below.

I always enjoy reading Ken Abell's perspectives that can be found in his writings, but this article was especially an enjoyable and meaningful read to me. I don't know anything about being married and do not claim to hold a vast knowledge base on love; however, I have a feeling Ken knows a thing or two and hit it right on the head in this article titled, "Love is a neverending story".

If this possum was playing dead, it's now trying to eat it's way out of a trash bag.

As I began to ascend the bank behind the push mower, thankfully self-propelled, I heard a loud "POP". "What happened?", I asked myself; though I knew I was asking myself this question just to postpone the horrific news I knew I was about to discover. I turned around to see a garbage truck fleeing the scene and ten feet behind, the entrails of a large possum strewn about the road. The large possum was still present as well, but the furry body was no longer the swarming point of the Musca domestica (common housefly), they had moved to the exposed intestines.

Upon arrival that morning to cut the lawn at my father's office, I had noticed a presumably dead possum on the road. I had no desire to touch it then even though it showed only minor signs of outward trauma. After this incident (I can't guarantee accident know what I would have done as the truck driver) I thought, "I feel bad for whoever has to clean that up." Well, guess what I was asked to do next? Yep - you probably guessed it unless you're a moron. I'd like to give a special thanks to garbage bags, flat shovels, and Kidron Auction for the livestock dump area in which this possum joined several small goats. Also, I'd like to thank a bluegrass band called, "The Possum Boys" for selling me a shirt back in November 2007 - this gave me appropriate attire to wear this evening and I truly feel part of the group.

Anybody can die for something, but doing it everyday takes courage.

If someone walked into your house right now and put a gun to your head and asked if you were a Christian, what would you say? Before you answer that, let me tell you that if you should say, "Yes, I am a Christian", this person will shoot you in the head. No, this isn't just some aggressive evangelism gone overboard. I don't know about you, but for me I would proclaim my faith without batting an eyelash. I could die for Christ without difficulty and I don't think that makes me even remotely special; because it's dying for Him day after day that is the true test of faith.

As life presents challenges and opportunities, I am asked daily, "Are you truly a Christ follower?", and daily I need to make the choice to kill my sinful desires and live for Christ. Sometimes... many times, I fail. However sometimes... many times, I succeed. I will continue to die for Christ and in dying I will continue to live for Christ. And while people argue about whether it is more honorable to live or to die for something; we as Christians have the opportunity, obligation, and honor of doing both.

Update from Madrid, Spain.

Thanks to all that are praying for me while I am working here in Madrid. The work is going as well as I could expect for still only being in the first half of my work time here (I say "work time" because I need to account for lost days due to time change adjustments). I am glad to report that today, Tuesday, was very encouraging and I accomplished a lot. I am also being encouraged daily working with the missionary family (the Bundy´s) here on the west side of the city as well as working with two other friends that are currently working with the family and the two churches.

For those that are wondering, my daily schedule is (attach an "ish" to all the times I list):
8:30a - Wake up to the kids going to school or the youngest coming and crawling into bed with me or creeping about my room curiously - he's eight years old, a lot of fun, and warmed up to me real quickly.
9:00a - Breakfast of freshly baked and purchased french bread, jam, and coffee with lots of milk.
9:30a - I start work and work at a casual yet productive pace while talking with Bruce Bundy (the dad of the family) as he works at his computer.
2:oop - Lunchtime, this is the big meal of the day. I am always ready for it being that I was used to eating lunch 3 or 4 hours after or with breakfast. Culturally, this is a time to eat, rest, talk, drink coffee, and sleep a little.
4:00p - Back to work for a few hours. For me, this tends to be a very productive time of the day because I just rested and, due to the time delay and fact that people are getting to work and starting their days in the USA, I begin to received answers to question I had in the morning.
8:00p - 8:30p - Work slows and I relax with the family, play X-Box with Joshua (the 14 year old that lives here), or like tonight, I visited with a small church group and participated in there questions over the Sunday sermon by Bruce.
9:00p - 10:00p - Sometime in this hour and even up until 11:00p, I will eat dinner. This is a small meal of the day so I just make a sandwich or heat up some lunch. Since lunch is so great warm ups are a great option for dinner and really do hit the spot.
12:00p - I go to bed in the living room on the most comfortable couch bed I have ever lain on. I'll sleep well until morning. It's amazing how quickly the days pass.

Basically, my schedule fits right in line with the culture, what you would find at a doctor office or school. I've really grown to enjoy the afternoon rest because I can go back to work feeling refreshed and restored. It's perfect for a two week job, I don't know if I would like it or not as a permanent thing, buts that's really of not real concern to me.

Thanks for your prayers and encouragement. Please keep praying that I can accomplish my goals here and also be an encouragement to the mission here in ways I can't see.

A view from "Casa de Campo". We spent an "after lunch rest" here and drank coffee on a beautiful day.


Us having lunch with some church friends on Sunday. Don't worry, the kids aren't drinking, that's just grape juice.