New on "DOGS"

This weekend I'll be speaking at our Brush Prairie campus (Sat. @ 7 p.m.) and Pastor Will is sharing at our Laurelhurst Sunday 10 a.m. service. We are continuing our Ark Series and the featured creature is "man's best friend" -the dog!

I'll be posting the main points of my talk this next week and a few tragic stories of my own three dogs and a couple pics. from by "tennis dog friend" I met last week in Boise Id.

Here is a link to a wonderful slide show Jeffrey Hecker (our guest photographer) put together - it's wonderful - watch it all the way to the end! (TAKE ME TO THE DOGS NOW)

HELP: We are feeding the homeless this Sun. at noon in Portland - if you can help serve, or prepare or buy food please email me (Brucea@livinghopechurch.com).

King of the Tube

There are two vital elements that keep friendship fresh - yep, I'm going to give them to you; are you ready? ONE - stay aware, keep it fresh, of how much OTHERS bless your life (thankfulness is the antidote to a critical heart). When you refocus, every day, on how much others ADD TO your life, your VALUE keeps going up - HIGH VALUE is what makes long, rich friendships.

In the video blog of my two boys playing KING OF THE TUBE (ages 22 & 18), I was reminded how blessed I am to have them with me for vacation, to watch their energy, strength, and fun! Wow, I am one of the most blessed men in all the world.

TWO (I didn't forget), great friendships need the fuel of KNOWING YOU ADD TO OTHER'S LIVES. We are all difference-makers! We buy into that huge lie that we aren't, but we are. We all have many things to add to other's lives (See last weeks LH video on "words."). You will find a fresh energy, rocket fuel, if you will focus on how you best add to others. Watching my boys fight on the tube, I realized how I can add $$$, drive the boat, video, and participate WITH them and they are better for it. It's so wonderful to realize God made you to be a creative giver too!

Enjoy the the clip!

Climbing up Glacier, Montana

Laura and I did the climb on our 3rd day of our vacation. Our bikes seemed eager to go as we started our ride on the famous, "Going-to-the-Sun Hwy." We finished at the top of Logan pass. We had no camera's, just 16 miles (13 of them uphill!) of fun. At times you can see over a thousand feet below you - riding a bike so close to the edge and seeing the splendour of Glacier is an amazing experience.

It started when we left the cabin (on Flathead lake) at 4:30 a.m. We got started on our ride about 7:20. We had to be back down to the campground by 11 a.m. (Park cut-off time for climbing the pass on bicycles).

Laura saw several "Mt. Goats" at the top (she actually beat me to the top of the Mt.) Here are a few photos (not mine - they need to be scanned) of what we saw.


The tunnel shot is where I began to die - my bike tried, but I hurt all the way to the top (Altitude? Attitude?)

Water, speed, big waves - FUN

What really make vacation great is the time spent with friends - our families watched this over and over (Nephew, Michael and his fiancee, Summer) - Great initiation! Coming soon, I promise, the big battle on the tube (featuring my two boys).

Michael & Summer tubing

A few more drives - Polson Mt

Ok, I'm so used to having a high-speed connection, NOT dial-up (I thought we had cable at the Lake) Montana blogs were put on hold, but not the fun. I'll be telling you about my climb up the "Going to the Sun hyway at Glacer, show you some very fun clips of my boys playing "King of the Mt. while tubbing, and more . . . stay tuned! It's always great to be back home! We did have a wonderful time (my golf game still sucks) and Here's my first clip that I tried to load via. dial-up (no way) - enjoy.