Coeur d’Alene

Having traveled from California to Denver, Rapid City, SD, Sheridan, WY, Bozeman, MT, we have arrived on the doorstep of Glacier National Park to spend a few days together. We are in the most magnificent RV Park we’ve ever seen.

Last weekend we were in Yellowstone National Park, and yesterday we drove the Going-to-the-Sun Road (see above) through the heart of Glacier National Park. Such beauty is hard to contain, and we have felt wonderfully detached from all the political fear and animosity driving our world to deeper conflict and anguish. It truly is time for those who are at rest in the love of Jesus to be revealed in the way they treat others, especially those who are lost in darkness.

We saw breathtaking views around every bend and have reflected on the immensity of our Creator. It’s also quite a contrast between the beauty of what he made and the constant conflict among humanity that despoils his work.

We got into an interesting discussion in Bozeman, MT. Helping people discern between true and false ministries, we talked about the difference between those who give you the agency to follow Jesus and those who rob you of the freedom to do so. Misguided leaders would rather tell you what to do—what you can read, who you can associate with, what meetings you must go to, and even what to wear, or even what to eat. In Colossians 2, Paul warned us that those who tell you what to do have lost connection with the Head. Since they are no longer following him, they don’t think you can either, so they make you dependent on their rules.

One of the major causes of embedded trauma is that the person did not have the agency to manage the tragic events happening to them. They didn’t have the internal resources to deal with the pain, nor did they have someone to turn to for help. Those who represent Jesus will in the world help others find their agency by equipping others to discern and follow the heart of Jesus. They are not troubled by your mistakes, but encourage you to think and listen for yourself. (In this week’s podcast, Kyle and I will discuss how Scripture in the hands of a bully can weaponize passages that were meant for our healing and freedom, and how that devastates people. It will air this Friday.)

Tomorrow, we head north to Canada. This weekend, we will be with the folks of UChurch in Calgary, AB. They are meeting at a community center in a park at 10:00 am and again at 2:00 pm, with a lunch break in between. They are providing hot dogs and burgers, and asking everyone else to bring side dishes to be shared.  8551 Bowness Road NW  •  Calgary, T3B 0H8. If you live nearby come and join us.

Next week, will visit Banff National Park before we head back to the U.S.

Our first stop when we are stateside again will be Coeur d’Alene, the weekend of September 27-28. We are hosting a meet-up on Saturday, outside Coeur d’Alene, in Liberty Lake, WA.  Saturday, September 27, from 1 pm to 5 pm. We’ve had a lot of interest, so please RSVP and get more details by signing up here.