What's important?

My supervisor is one of the greatest managers of people I know. He has the ability to handle people with such diverse personalities and varying levels of maturity in a fair and straight forward manner. He has the ability to see what issues are important to address and which issues are better left alone. I value his opinion greatly, and so one day we were talking about some of the different men that work under him. I wanted to know what he thought about the men on our crew who called themselves "Christians"

There are some guys at work that go to church on a regular basis, yet their language is pretty heavily seasoned with "four letter words" and other obscenities. I ask my self, "How can they call themselves Christians and be talking like that?" I think about what a poor testimony they are having in front of people like my supervisor. Yet as I talk with my supervisor, he is not bothered in the least by the vocabulary of these men. In his mind there is no great dichotomy in a man who calls himself a Christian and uses the "four letter word" on a regular basis, rather he is offended by the poor work ethic of men who say they follow Christ. It has made me think much more about what is important to those around me , those I would like to reach with the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Yes, I may watch my tongue, but am I a "company man", and a "team player". Am I some one who shows up on time for work and actually takes only 30 minutes for lunch. Do I work as hard as I can, in the most efficient way, and do it for Christ, that His name might be glorified through me? I want to better see myself the way the world sees me and then let Christ change me in ways that will most effectively impact the lives of the men with whom I work.

Board Room to Red Boots

Last Sunday I flew "red eye" to Charlotte, NC to serve for the last time on the SIM Board of Directors. I had been invited to serve as a missionary on home assigment for the past year. Wenedsday morning at 1:00 I was back in Bakersfield. By 4:30 am I was in my truck on my way to work, where I spray weeds with a solution of various chemicals and a red marker dye. It's impossible to work without dying your boots a pinkish red.

This Friday I will join James, our youngest son, and my dad on a trip to th "La Purisma" mission along the California Camino Real. Then Saturday, I will go snake hunting with my son Denny and some snake collectors looking for Rosey Boas and a certain species of California King Snake.

Besides these exciting events I will be continuing on the more mundane task of reformating some Guarani Bible Study materials, practicing Guarani, and spraying weeds.

Kelly has finished her chemo!!

About a month ago Kelly had her last chemo treatment
and last month her bone scans, mamigrams and blood work
showed no cancer. She is now taking a drug to control
the way the cancer responds to her hormones.