I am thankful that God loves me (and each of you, if you can accept it from Him). There have been several things that have happened recently in my life that have really given me sober pause to ponder life again. I am SO thankful that I know who I serve, and that my life has meaning. I am thankful that when I die, I will be with God in His home, someplace that people don't have a right to enter, but that He offers the privilege to enter, to those willing to ask forgiveness of wrong decisions and are willing to let Him live in their lives as their new king. It's so simple, and it breaks my heart deeper and deeper every time I hear someone claim to not need God or even want to know Him. If only they knew and understood how awesome it is to know and be able to carry on deep friend conversations with the incredibly awesome God of this universe...... but I am digressing.

1. I went to go see the movie "The End of the Spear", a true story, several weeks ago. I cried. It touched me. And although I thought the movie left out some critical stuff, I also thought the producers did a pretty good job overall.

The story itself centers around 5 men and their families, who lived in the jungles of Ecuador in the 50's. It was their goal to establish contact with the Waudoni tribe, a fierce tribe of jungle people that were known for their killing ways. One of the men made a statement that I thought was profound.... It was something to the effect of not being afraid to die in contact with the Waudoni, with a parallel statement that he would also not defend himself with deadly force against the Waudoni, because he knew that he would go to heaven if he died, while the Waudoni didn't have that knowledge yet. This man then died in contact with the Waudoni, and when he died, angels visibly escorted him to heaven. (Remember - true story).

And I suppose it hit me too, because I used to live there in Ecuador, as a teenager, and have personally met and talked with a number of the people portrayed in the movie. When I said 'true story' - it's true. I've been there. I've seen Dayuma. I've had lunch with Auntie Rachel. I've been in the Saint's house. My father led a fundraiser that bought the bell for the church that is now built in one of the Waudoni villages. So it brought up a lot of memories for me, of a time in my life where life was simpler, more carefree, and very fun.

At the root of it though, the movie challenged me. These men, and their wives, were not afraid to try big things for God. They were not afraid to die, while simply trying to share with someone that God (Weigonga(spelling?) in the movie) loved them too and wanted to personally walk with them, and that it was possible because of Jesus' own death. They were willing to die to share; they loved these Waudoni that much. Do I love my friends that much? The ones that have not asked God/Jesus into their lives yet?

2. I am alive, because God has chosen to allow me that privilege. How many people have had such close calls with death that they recognize God was behind their escape, yet they fail to make the connection that if God allowed them to remain alive, then He was trying to get their attention, wanting to develop a personal friendship with them. How devastated He feels every time He saves someone from certain death and yet they still don't try to get to know Him!

In my car, I have installed a permanent set of jumper cables that sit on the floorboard behind the driver's seat, where I can set batteries for the house power system to charge up while I am driving. Usually the cable clamps are in a protected sheath when I don't have a battery being charged.

Late last night, well after dark, these cables were not in their sheath, but just lying loose on the floorboard. I am not sure if I forgot to put them away of if they got bumped or pulled out or what. In any case, they were exposed. I then happened to throw my metal cable tire chains in on top of them, though they did not short out at that point. I then went to the gas station to fill up several plastic gas cans (a five gallon and a 2 gallon) for the gasoline generator up here at the ranch. When I had finished filling them, I also set them in on the floorboard of my car, behind the driver seat, not realizing that I was sitting them on top of the exposed jumper cables. The cables instantly shorted out on the tire chains, but I couldn't see that because the full 5 gallon plastic gasoline can was on top of them. I got into my car and started to drive home, but within about 50 feet of the gas station, my car filled with acrid electrical and plastic smoke.

I immediately pulled over, found a flashlight that had providentially been left in the car (it's often in the house, not the car), jumped out, and isolated the smoke source to the back seat. Immediately, I yanked the gas cans out, realizing that the jumper cables were shorting out, and yanked the cables loose too. One of the copper clamps had melted almost halfway off, and there was a badly burned spot in the carpet and on a section of cable chain. And the kicker? There was a hole burned almost halfway through the plastic on the bottom of the FULL five gallon gasoline can. Now I don't know about you, but some people would recognize this as one possible gasoline bomb setup....

And when you think about things this way, it suddenly casts new light on what kinds of things I should or should not be involved in. It brings eternal things more into focus. What is it that we are doing that is going to outlast us? After we are gone, what difference have we made in the eternal scheme of things, and in the lives of people around us? What is our legacy? Are we wasting time here with our activities, or accomplishing something of value? And who better to show us how to, and to help us to, build that legacy, than the God who created time itself?

So I've once again had my dedication to this project challenged and reconfirmed. I am exactly where I am supposed to be. Now whether the "gasoline bomb" incident was mere chance, or a setup by demonic forces, I don't know, and am not really concerned about it, because frankly, God is taking care of me, and I am not leaving this world and going to His home until He is good and ready for me to come home. That tells me, and encourages me, that He still has some very cool plans ahead for Him and me to accomplish together. Now THAT, brings me a deep satisfaction and contentment that money can never buy, and unfortunately, I suspect that few people have ever felt or experienced (kinda sad).

Oh, kinda a cool memory that several of us made several weeks ago... *chuckle*. Me and a couple from church, and our kids (my daughter and their girls) all went to some hot springs up in the mountains about 3 hours from here, several Sunday evenings ago. We hiked through snow over 6 feet deep (there was a trial) down a short hill (sat on our bottoms and slid), in 10 degree (I'm guessing) temperatures, to a natural hot springs pool that was about 104+ degrees. It was SOOOOOO awesome and very relaxing. The kids had a blast. It was funny, in that we were sitting in this amazing hot mineral water, and it was so cold out that there was ice in our hair, while we were sitting in the water up to our necks. We had to laugh about that. But getting out, and drying off, and changing, all next to the pool, was an experience all of its own.... *laughter*. We DEFINATELY made some indelible memories for the kids that night. Don't worry, no one got sick or anything from it. It was fun though. And yes, I'd do it again. We made permanent memories with the kids, and we enjoyed telling God how awesome He was to create such beauty around us. It was neat.

On another side note, I have got that sinus infection and congestion stuff again, that I had the entire winter last year. It's better this year, and it didn't hit me until midway through January in the aftermath of catching the flu from my daughter, but I still have some pretty miserable days with it. Today has been a much better day. The air purifier definitely helps, and I am loading up on natural antibiotics and vitamins and stuff, and they seem to be making a slow difference. But prayers would still be appreciated.

It got down to around zero degrees again here last night. Kinda chilly! I keep hoping spring is coming! *chuckle*. There is still about a foot and a half of beautiful snow on the ground here, and I love how sparkly it is in the sunshine each day. I so love living here :-)

2. A youth pastor friend of mine that I met about 6 years ago at an international antigravity conference, came to visit in January, to explore the chances of him joining the ranch for awhile to help us get it up and running. We had an awesome weekend sharing, talking, and praying together, and he and I both feel that God may want him here. Unfortunately, he lives in Monroe Utah, and we need to track down a moving van or something for him to move here with. If someone has a moving van that I could borrow for a week to get him moved up here with, that would be awesome. Anyone?

3. I have received several unsolicited inquiries recently about people interested in working with the ranch, that I can only assume are divine appointments (strange ways in which they have found out about us). It's neat. Am exploring options with several of them. Pray that God leads the right people here. It's totally amazing to hear some of these peoples' stories of how God has been leading them recently in their lives.

4. God led another friend of mine that I know from time spent mutually volunteering at another Christian youth ranch in Boise, to commit to coming up to the ranch each weekend to help out with projects. His first time up was last weekend, and we got a lot of talking and ranch idea planning done. That was encouraging. He'll be here this weekend again, and I hope that he and I can get some projects done, or at least started, that I have not been able to do by myself yet. One of the first things we will be working on is setting up several cabins to be livable for a whole group of people that that have either already committed to, or are seriously considering, moving up here immediately, or by summertime (2 men, 1 couple, 1 woman), in order to get this place operational. Anyone else care to help with this?

5. Several individuals that have expressed a desire to help out here at the ranch, have come under bitter attack from the enemy, and they need our prayers and covering. Every time we take a step forward, I see and recognize opposition on a spiritual level to what God wants to accomplish here. I am not surprised. It makes me instead, very angry at the darkness, especially when it succeeds in completely derailing someone from helping here (has happened several times now, and the way the darkness has destroyed several of these individuals just broke my heart to see happen - am still praying for them, and God will yet prove to be victor ).

6. I am in the process of trying to set up several bank accounts with a local Christian institution where people can donate directly to the ranch: one for a building fund, one for a property fund, and one for a general budget fund. I will let you know details as soon as I can.

7. Another Christian organization in Boise is also now exploring options with us to help host/run youth camps. It's totally cool. It's interesting too, because at Christmastime, while staying at my parent's house in Oklahoma, I had a dream that I met a woman (and I heard her name in the dream) soon that would provide something that I had been looking for. I met a woman by this name, that even looked a lot like the one in my dream, when I was put in touch with this organization by a mutual friend in January. Kinda cool. A neat God thing. It was a fingerprint that I couldn't miss. So I kinda suspect that we will be coordinating some fairly big events and whatnot with this organization later on down the road. It's very cool.

9. I am making progress sorting through more of the legal stuff needed to get this place operational. It's kinda daunting sometimes, but God knows, and so I am not too worried..... I used to hate paperwork, with a passion, but I dunno, somehow it's not scaring me like it used to. Maybe God is changing me inside regarding this issue. If so, it's kinda cool :-)

10. I have been able to substantially stabilize the power situation here at the ranch, and make some concrete plans for long term power generation capabilities. That's kinda cool, and something that I am thankful to also be making progress with.

11. The man who I bought the railroad batteries from last month, has three more for me, also at cut rates. I am very thankful for these, as they will become the initial backbone of the power system here at the ranch. Now I just need to figure out how to move them around (they weigh about 1200 pounds each). Anyone have access to, or have a line on, a bulldozer, front end loader, or backhoe that we can use here at the ranch (also for more than just moving these batteries around)?

And as I always say, there are lots more little everyday things that happen around here, that are obvious God fingerprints too. It's very encouraging. The numbers of people that are interested in working here, and have at least initially committed to helping out with things, seems to be growing every month too. I know that not all of them will actually end up here, and I know that the darkness with also derail some of them, but the numbers are still growing, and it's kinda exciting to be a part of...

Talk to me if you have any questions about anything I have mentioned this month. And to those of you that pray for me and/or the ranch, Thank You! God hears you, and is doing something really cool here, and I am only too happy to share the excitement of it with you.