Beyond the Ice

Wow! What a deep freeze. We have been locked down the past few days. No school. No traction. No more gigantic wood pile. The fires are burning and so are the candles in many homes near Kanakuk central. After three days now of no school and some no electricity, we were ready for change.

Guess what? We got it.

Looking out my window the sun is shining, the ice is melting, and the cedar trees are beginning to spring back up into formation as the heavy frozen rain is rapidly disappearing.

And none too soon, I might add. Kamp is just around the bend.

The past few days did help bring some perspective. No electricity meant no heat (we burned lots of wood in the fireplace), no water (we skipped showers and laundry for a while), and no lights (playing board games late into the night via some candles is absolutely the best).

It kind of reminded me of what we do on Rainy days at kamp. You know the drill. We throw out the regular schedule and get the creative juices flowing for some real kamp fun. Ahhh, I can hardly wait for June. Get ready special programs. It's supposed to be a wet summer. :)

Don't Worry-Be Happy

I don't know about you, but every day I wake up, it seems like there is something to worry about. This morning news broadcasts and radio programs were jammed with information about a pending winter weather watch/ice storm headed our way today at 3pm. Reporters were predicting that we may be without power for several days. In between the weather report, was a listing of more failed banks and a concern that our money was not safe any longer. Add on a little news about terrorism, and you have a perfect start to perfect storm of worry for the day. Okay, you may not be concerned about all of that stuff, but I bet you have test scores, relationships, or being maxed out with too many commitments, that are tugging on your worry muscles.

At the root of anxious thought is a small trickle that runs through our mind that can eventually lead to a deep crevice if we don't stop the drip. Here is what I try to remind myself in the midst of it all:

1. God controls it all. The One who spoke everything into existence holds me in His hand. He is sovereign over all the details of my life, those around me, and certainly national and world politics and economy.

2. I need to rest in Him. Isaiah 26:3 reminds me that if I set my mind on Him, and keep it on Him, He will bring me peace. Why? When I think about my Creator's character, it reassures me that He can handle anything I have happening right now...and more.

3. Pray and meditate on his word. Matthew 6:25-34, Philippians 4:6-7, and verse 8, as well as II Timothy 1:7 remind me that the fundamentals of my faith are rooted in good prayer time and good scripture memory. I need it daily just like I need my bowl of oatmeal. They both stick to my ribs and put meat on the bones.

I don't know what you are worried about today. I am sure you have some serious challenges. I pray that you will cast your anxious thoughts into His lap and trust Him to work on your behalf. Don't worry, be happy that you have a God who can handle everything.

Todd is out on the Road and having fun seeing kids and staff. After a busy week with Joe and his band of brothers, Todd is ready to start a new martial arts class at Kwest. Okay, maybe not, but this photo of Todd in OKC with his new buddy bring up some fond memories of Texas/OU battles. I can't believe Todd signed up for a trail that went to Oklahoma any way. Regardless, we hope you can catch Todd as his sings his way around the country at Kanakuk Live Movie Tour stops. He will be in Nebraska and Iowa next week. Look out Nate Sell!

Get Married?

Something for our Staff:

Check that picture out. That's me and Beth cutting our wedding cake.

Since there has been a rash of Kwest folks getting engaged to be married, the question begs to be answered. You might be sitting out there saying, "What about me?" "When do I get married?" "How do I know if it's right person?"

I think it's worth some careful thought. After celebrating 20 years with Beth just a few months ago, it felt like we were setting a world record. So many of my friends around me seem to be struggling, or even worse, not surviving.

I received an email from a staff this week that I had written to 3 years ago answering his question. He sent it back to me this week thanking me for my thoughts and advice. I thought I might share a portion of it with you since I am on a roll talking about my wife:

Should you get married?

To begin, I would steer you to the word of God. What does it say? I Corinthians 7 is packed with lots of counsel on marriage, being single, and details related to making decisions for ourselves, and our children. Go there first, foremost, and even last (especially after you read this mail).

I do know that "if" we decide to get married, Paul warns us that our interests now become divided. We are no longer just concerned about the Lord and how we can please Him, but we concern ourselves with the world and caring for a wife (see I Corth 7:32-33). A wife divides our loyalty to the Master. However it's better to marry than it is to burn...so, I am thankful that I have a wonderful bride.

My counsel would be to make sure you marry someone like my wife (I say that with a little smile/smirk): Godly, always positive, able to deal with adversity well, people person, and also, a call it like you see it gal. She is the most I'm Third person I know. She is selfless, and so willing to serve me and the kids. Plus she has never make a bad meal in our 17 years of marriage. I have no complaints.

1) my parents told me to marry my best friend...because I would get to spend the rest of my life with them.

2) marry someone who is heading in the same direction as you.

3) most important, and really the number one thing, find a person whose heart is yielded to the Lord. (these were just a few of thoughts I shared)

I have added another 3 years to my wedding date since I had written those words. By the way, Beth still hasn't made a bad meal. If you want all the details and the long version, I will be glad to send it. After I read it, it made me appreciate my wife all over again. I love those brown eyes as much as the day we first met.

It's a Beautiful day in the Ozarks...and it's snowing

One of the things I love the most in my life are the people who help me have a positive attitude. To be honest, I struggle at times keeping everything on the up and up (I am pretty analytical). Fortunately, I have unbelievable family and friends close to me that are off of the charts when it comes to being positive.

Starting with my wife Beth,God knew that I needed someone who would always see the best in me, and every situation we faced (snow today in the Ozarks and it's awesome!). I also have an assistant director who has without a doubt the purest positive heart on the planet. Going down my roster I find an women's director named Spook, a neighbor and friend named Keith Chancey (it's all good) and a host of other people, including Joe White, that ooze a spirit of always looking for the best.

My mom always said, "a good attitude or bad attitude...they all pay the same so you might as well have fun." She basically sums up Chuck Swindol's brilliant paragraph on this subject. This one belongs on our mirror where we brush our teeth and can read it every day...

“Attitudes”
Words can never adequately convey the incredible impact of our attitude toward life. The longer I live the more convinced I become that life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it.
I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude. It is more important than my past, my education, my bankroll, my successes or failures, fame or pain, what other people think of me or say about me, my circumstances, or my position. Attitude keeps me going or cripples my progress. It alone fuels my fire or assaults my hope. When my attitudes are right, there's no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, no challenge too great for me.

Rapper Hits the Road!!

Equipped with a pocket full of per diem money and a van packed with dvd's and brochures, Todd Rapp is leading the charge this week out on the Movie Tour. He is traveling with Joe White, Shay and Ashley Robbins, Jennifer Farley, and Matt Houston. They will be in OKC tonight, Tulsa on Tuesday, St. Louis on Wednesday, and then in KC on Thursday. Don't miss this tour if you are in any of those cities. It's going to be the real deal.

By the way, next week Todd will be in Nebraska (Omaha on Sunday, Lincoln on Monday) and then head to Des Moines and University of Iowa later in the week. Todd is a non stop fun machine and I am sure the shows will be too. Catch his world tour soon and ask about his release of a new album "Bumble Bee, Books, and Balto" the best of Todd Rapp and sons.

Big Time Baller breaks record!

Well, looks like we have a real deal Kanakuk baller. Check out this story. Washington Catholic’s Austin Jarrett lead his team to a 98-38 win over Holy Cross on Saturday. During the game, Jarrett set the single game scoring record with 52 points. What an incredible game! We are super pumped for him. He is a great leader. We sure miss him around Kwest. He has moved on to bigger and better things over at K2 where he is doing awesome!

Klife Comes to Town

The Klife Gang was here this past week. It felt a little like it was Staff Training again. We had a ton of fun with folks running around town.

We had an unofficial kwest Charlie's Grilled Subs lunch with Befort and Erin (Waco Klife), Jenica (Omaha Klife), as well as Lauren Cushing, Brandon Edwards, Luke and Renee Crane (all in the K-Institute), Travis Hague (Holister Klife...invited but double booked), and the Wiebes. It was our best attempt to relive Konnections and the Steak n Shake parties we had when everyone was in town. 24's...ur, ah, I mean "time with people" is the best.

Klife has grown over the past few years. I count almost 40 different cities in 12 states. I was fortunate enough to be involved with Klife for 7 years (did I say that I love this job?) It is such a viable option if you have a passion to hang out with and disciple kids. That's what it's all about (www.klife.com).

Even though we missed Konnections, it was still fun to party with the Klife crew. They have a way talented staff here and they definitely made a splash in Branson out on the strip. Where else will you find 120 people lined up to do the spa at the Chateau on Lake? Klife is really treating their employees well these days. I should have never moved on.

The picture about is of some legendary Uncles of Kwest...for real legends. Let me just say again that I love the part of my job that let's me hang out with such quality people. What a life.

Starting Clean

“Starting Clean”
Ephesians 5:1-2

As we break the huddle from family reunions and holiday gatherings, most everyone has a relative they clash with or don’t understand. For lack of a better word, they just “bug us.” We don’t like being around them.

Maybe we left last semester with a bad roommate situation or someone who is in our house that we’d rather not see when we go back to school. We don’t like them because they have made us mad or upset, so why deal with them?

Paul cuts right to the point in his letter to the Ephesians when he writes, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us…” Our life needs to be patterned after how God has loved us and has given such tremendous forgiveness through His Son, Jesus. Paul is making a point about forgiving others much in the same way He has forgiven us. We imitate His love and compassion (see chapter 4 verse 32).

Do you need to forgive anyone? Is there someone who needs compassion from you?

Listen to this story of forgiveness that Chuck Colson shared this week:

Ninety-two-year-old Pauline Jacobi had just finished loading her groceries into her car at a local Wal-Mart in Dyer County, Tennessee. She got in her car, and a moment later, a man climbed into the passenger side. He said he had a gun and that he would shoot her if she did not hand over her money. What she did next did not involve pepper-spray or martial arts, but it did save her life and may have saved his.
Pauline calmly refused her would-be robber three times. Then she said, “You know, as quick as you kill me, I’ll go to heaven and you’ll go to hell.” Then she told him that he needed to ask God for forgiveness. “Jesus is in this car,” she said, “and He goes with me everywhere I go.” Jacobi said that the man looked around, and then tears began to come to his eyes.
For 10 more minutes, Jacobi shared with the man. Finally, he said, “I think I will go home tonight and pray.” But Jacobi told him that he did not need to wait to pray; he could pray now.
Then Jacobi voluntarily offered the man all the money she had on her, 10 bucks, on one condition—that he not spend the money on whiskey. After that, the man kissed her on the cheek, got out of the car, and walked away.

Wow! Now that’s an example worth following. I want my faith, life, and forgiveness to be like that 90 year old woman who had all of her priorities straight.

As we start this New Year, it might do us good to check our hearts and perhaps extend compassion and forgiveness to those who have hurt us most deeply. It’s a great time to start with a clean slate. Let’s live out our faith in such a way this year that people can’t help but be changed in a radical way when they see our focus on forgiveness and our faith to imitate the Father’s love.

Ward

P.s. Make sure you keep in touch with your kampers! Visit this link to get your kamper information…www.kanakuk.com/staff and contact them.

From Park Ranger to Paper Bags. Now What?

Paper bags full of hope. What a great idea.

From generating laughter for KWest kids at the expense of the Park Rangers skit characters all the way to leading Friday Fun lunches for co-workers in the market place, Joel Thomason has always been good at sharing hope. People love being around him.

Joel looks for ways to love people and meet needs. It's so simple that it's really profound. This time though, he may have more than he bargained for. God might just be up to something big.

His recent exploits to meet the needs of homeless people in the KC area caught the eye of the local newspaper. Joel was just passing out brown bags with lunch and warm gloves when a reporter stumbled across his path as he worked. What next? A front page article in the KC Star. A plethora of offers to help and assist have streamed in over the last 24 hours. It's almost surreal.

JT is used to that though. He doesn't mind. He's not typical (to coin a phrase he used a few years ago with our kids at Klife talk number 3). He isn't out to make a name for himself. He takes it all in stride and looks to see how God is at work.

The first time I met Joel was in his interview for Kanakuk. Although a tad bit nervous, as we talked I could tell that he was a man who wanted to live for the Lord and make a difference in others. You know what? He has.

Check out the link to the article and let me know what you think. Maybe we all need to follow his lead. The story has garnered him all types of support. Stay tuned to see what God will do. He is definitely at work. In the mean time, I have to ask myself, "What I am doing to deliver hope today?"

http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/966086.html

Preparing for Summer 2009 Bumblebee!

I know it is just January, but the Rapps are getting pumped for this summer. In this video you'll see Todd's 3 youngest boys getting ready for the Bumblebee! They are currently in training.... aspiring to be the Bumblebee side-kick of Matt Thomas this summer.... (I'm hoping it will be the one wearing diapers!)

New Year and New Beginnings

2009 is here and it's started with a bang!

Things you might want to know:

Nate Pugh is getting married! That's right. The Wheaton Thunder is "booming!" and way excited about his new fiancee' Christal Su-Juen Yeoh. They get married this upcoming August. He is registered for His and Her baseball mitts via the Macy's website.

Allison Beene is throwing a party in Dallas. Check out facebook if you want to go to dinner with a bunch of the kwest folks in the Dallas area tomorrow night. Look up details on the Kwest facebook page.

The Law fought the Law, and the Law won! Blake Law is engaged to Shalako Munson and getting married too. Is it in the Kwest water? Blake waited on the end of the semester and the K-Institute policy to make his move and propose. More details coming.

Branson Wins Blue and Gold Tourney. Okay, this might be a little boring, but I it's fun to add in some local news. The Pirates headed up by the Kanakuk Kids won the Christmas tourney in Springfield this week. The wins propelled them to 10-1. We are off to a good start.

Happy New Year!