Stop 45 - Virginia Beach, VA

Ocean bound fun! My nomadic wanderings brought me to the East Coast bastion of natural beauty.(Chesapeake Bay) Along with the divinely inspired scenery, I was able to see three close friends from Youth With a Mission. Fellowship together illustrates my conviction that friendships have value greater than the return of any financial security. (or these days I should say insecurity)

Into what investments are you depositing your life?

Stop 44 - Peoria, IL

Human life has tremendous divinely endowed value. Although 1 year old David (see picture) lacks a college education or a high paying salary, my nephew is a valuable treasure. His simple love and joy can melt hearts and teach lessons on what is truly important.

While visiting my sister's family in Peoria, I was blessed with the profound wrapped in small simplicity. Enjoying a peaceful family awakened fresh life in my heart and lifted my eyes upward to the highest priorities.

Despite my nephew's lack of Marxian productivity, he is worthy of great love. A resulting question of utmost importance would be, what determines your value in life?

Stop 43 - St. Louis

Our team of wandering nomads rolled into the Show Me State (home of the fantastic ice cream shown in the above picture). While working with a unique set of thrift stores called Stuff-N-More, I gained a greater understanding of the need to help the whole person. While the store sold low cost goods to low income customers, the workers willing dolled out love, encouragement and prayer. As a result, the whole person (physical and spiritual) was nourished.

Remember, man cannot live on tasty ice cream alone.

Stop 43 - St. Louis (family oasis)

Homecoming is a tremendous blessing to many family members (old and new). With two friends from YWAM in tow, returning to my native land (or state) was a celebration of fun.

Stop 42 - Oklahoma City (camping trip)

Lacking a place to stay the night while journeying to Kansas City was a beneficial problem. On a map, I noticed a massive Lake Thunderbird near Oklahoma City. For only a few dollars, our adventuring team was able to camp on a lakeside peninsula and watch an amazing sunset and sunrise. With prayer and improvisation a perplexing housing problem was transformed into a scenic blessing.

What unwanted problems in your life can God flip into desires fulfilled?

Stop 41 - Tyler, Texas

Turning lemons to lemonade can happen in everyday life. With a wedding to attend, we continued our road trip to Youth With a Mission's Ranch in Tyler, Texas. We were delayed from leaving Tyler due to lack of housing at our next roadtrip stop. Despite the sour lemons of logistics, our stop in Tyler was turned into a sweet oasis. In order to redeem the time, we volunteered for YWAM, spent quality time with friends, and soaked in the immense beauty of rural Texas. The irksome logistical delay transformed into an enjoyable chance to serve.

My experiences applied the concept my Father taught me that, 'all things can be turned to good for those that love Him.' A friend's food art pictured above expresses my view on the time spent in Tyler, Texas.

Stop 40 - Houston, Texas

(http://www.ualbanyhillel.org/pictures/2004-04-18_holocaust/005.jpg)

Paperwork, paperwork, the joy of paperwork. After stopping in Houston to help a friend resolve a passport issue, I looked past the paperwork maze to see a higher purpose in our trip. With a trip to the Holocaust Museum (see above) near Houston's beautiful Hermann Park, I received fresh perspective on my bureaucratic encounters. My minor troubles with red tape, pale in comparison to the mass spilling of red blood by utopia craving regimes. Furthermore, my civic conscience mandates that I actively stand for justice, righteousness, and life in my country. A 'final solution' to mass murder involves living the truth that God gives every human equally built-in value that transcends their 'productivity' and 'race'.

From my experience, I ask the following question: What can you do to promote the value of life and justice where you live?