After our last advanced bootcamp in October our own Jayson wrote this poem. Those that were present at the camp all remember it as a very special time of stepping out of the battle, spending much-needed time with God and each other. So many of us had hit financial troubles that had seemed to culminate this past year and everything that goes with that.
A Man and His Calling
About a year or more ago our own John Bergquist was taking what seemed like a typical call from a potential client. The man got John's number from the same kind of friend-of-a-friend network that makes up a good chunk of the pipeline business runs on in the social-media era and John was telling this man about the company, history, services...that sort of thing.At one point John mentions his work with another team member, Chris Skaggs, and the man on the other end of the line stops John short to clarify, "Chris Skaggs? Like Boot Camp Northwest Chris Skaggs?"John replies, "Yeah...why?"
All Saints
In a few weeks, on November 1, is a liturgical holiday called All Saints Day...I only know this because Odin, my 6 year old son, was asking about Halloween and I decided to look it up. Outside of what Wikipedia says I'm only slightly more informed but the name reminded me of something we talk about at Bootcamp. Who are the 'Saints'? Let me tell you a quick story.
What is Clarity Worth?
Have you ever seen the bumper sticker that says, "Next time you think you're perfect, try walking on water"? The author is obviously nodding toward Jesus and His famous stroll across the Sea of Galilee, but we often forget that Jesus wasn't the only person to do this particularly impressive miracle. Peter, who many might call the most imperfect of the disciples, also took a stroll on the surf.
More Fire, More Wind
Defining Moments
Preservation of the world
In one of the less famous scenes from the Chronicles of Narnia, Jill Pole winds up pushing Eustace of the edge of a cliff in anger (Eustace is saved by Aslan). Later she finds herself powerfully thirsty and drawn to the sound of a stream in the woods. This is the same forest Aslan disappeared into after the dreadful incident with Eustace and she is terrified to enter, but also desperate for water. Eventually she creeps through the trees and finds the stream - cool, bubbling, perfect. But she is paralyzed by what she sees there…
Perspective
The Time Is Now
Men, look around your workplace right now. Look around your neighborhood. Look around your nation. Right now with the darkness of the financial crisis and the threat of our jobs being terminated, most men, Christian or non-Christian, are pulling back on every front in their lives. It may be that we are witnessing one of the most challenging seasons in our nation in at least a generation.
To Our Fellow Knights
To our Fellow Knights, 'Tis the season to be jolly...and we pray that this is true for you and your family. At the same time we cannot forget that a war rages around us especially during the time when we are worshipping the birth of our savior. Is it any surprise how the enemy hates Christmas, Bethlehem and anything that reminds him that he has lost and Christ has won?