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We are six weeks away! Six weeks from launching our fifth campus (fourth location)!

A couple of weeks ago, Linda and I were in Talkeentna, Alaska, at the foot of Denali National Park, and the foot of that giant mountain. Most people don’t know that Denali is earth’s tallest mountain from base to peak on land. Those mountains that are taller are part of very high ranges where the land surrounding them are at a much higher elevation. We started into Denali from an elevation below Chicago, so from our flatland perspective, and from the foot of the mountain, Den

Sled dogs. They are fascinating animals. They absolutely love pulling sleds. Even in the summer, sled dogs have this driving desire to pull something. And they need the daily workout. Since the snow is gone, Husky trainers exercise them by harnessing the dogs to a UTV. Last week, Linda and I were at a kennel outside of Wasilla, Alaska and witnessed it.

Have you heard that church attendance in America is down? Actually, when you get into the details, you find that more people are attending evangelical churches in America today than ever before.

I’ll admit, it used to make me feel uncomfortable. I’m sure some of you wonder why others in church lift their hands while singing, and it might bother you how people around you cheer and clap between songs.

A new priest, born and raised in Texas, was nervous about hearing confessions, so he asked an older priest to sit in on his first couple of sessions. After hearing the first few confessions, the old priest asked him to step out of the booth for some advice.

“My mom’s been gone for over ten years, but every time I make a decision I hear her voice in my head, approving or disapproving. It’s like I’m still living to please her."

Every time my family drove by the above rock formation, I vowed that I would climb it someday.

Mike is a friend of mine, though that’s not really his name. He struggled in school and barely made it through. I’ve never heard anyone accuse him of being very smart. But I’ve also never heard anyone call him a fool. He really is not that gifted with natural intelligence. But the guy is a master at making good decisions and inspiring people. He has a good marriage, good kids, and he runs his own successful small business. He often jokes that if it were not for his bookkeeper

Jim Carey said, “I think everyone should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.”

As a young Christian, I heard someone say, “God doesn’t want you happy, he wants you holy.” Another way I’ve heard this, “God isn’t interested in your happiness, he’s interested in your holiness.” And it’s often said like it’s a clever play on words.

A couple of years ago, a man with a gun attempted to highjack a school bus in Columbia, South Carolina. The bus was filled with younger elementary students, including a lot of kindergartners. But the commandeer let them all go because the kids would not stop talking to him and asking him questions. “Are you going to hurt us?” “Are you going to hurt our bus driver?” “Why do you want our bus?"