Wow and Then Some

So much to say to everyone. Life has changed so much for Emily and I since my last post. After almost 2 1/2 years Emily and I have been blessed to be led away from River of Life, our first church post Dordt College. It was a great and wonderful learning experience and I can honestly say that because of ROL I have had my eyes opened to the world and to the value of
the WORD in our churches. It was not an easy parting for anyone as we felt called to speak the truth in love to the leadership of ROL. I often ponder on what has passed us by and I think that in the end we did was what right and that God was evident in our actions from the start of the leaving process (that began in earnest in April). I pray that through our actions the leaders will be brought closer to God and that ROL will find its way again. I know there are good people there and that God is evident in their lives.

After spending hours in prayer and seeking other places for months God eventually answered our prayers and allowed Emily's School to offer me a job. As of right now I am a middle school Math and Science teacher at a school about 45 min from home. It isn't so bad as Em and I get to ride together everyday. I enjoy it but I know that it is in the end not where I am supposed to be. This past week I also got a part time job with middle school youth at a church near home. I had been friends with the youth pastor when I was a youth pastor so it was and is a seamless transition.

On other fronts Bingley is still doing good. We are going into another showing season in earnest. Aaron (Emily's brother) is coming in from West Point over Thanksgiving and we'll have to once more polish off the Lefse grill.

Wishing you and yours a Very MErry....err...wait...It's still November...

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Word from Our Sponsor...

Em and I are finally back after a whirlwind of last few weeks. She had the last few weeks of school to teach and her big, end of the year event. Then we left for Westpoint, NY for a week to see Devon (Em's brother) graduate from the United States Military Academy (Westpoint - think Army). It was awesome and I will upload some pics in the very near future!

Projector Bulbs...

Do you have any idea how difficult it is to find replacement bulbs for projectors?

Our projector at church started to get a fuzzy picture so I pulled it down last night and had a look at the bulb. Unfortunately, it has started to melt and balloon out around the filament. This wasn't a good scenario considering we have church on Sunday and everyone uses the screen for the words to all of our worship music (not the end of the world, but we'd like to prevent it). So right now I am on hold with a place to rush delivery of the $300+ dollar light bulb! Oh happy day!

Other than that not much is happening right now. Emily and I are enjoying our pooch, Bingley. Youth is going well. We just split Jr. High and Sr. Highers into 2 groups over the summer. We have a packed schedule full of days at the beach, fun in the sun, and a back to college series on Christianity 101. It should be awesome!

Cheers.

Fishing, Lemons, and Dog

This past Friday I had the wonderful chance to go out fishing with my good prayer buddy Ken and another Youth Pastor down here named Adam. It was quite the experience...


We almost died.

We went out into the intra-coastal waterway in search of some good fishing grounds. We were in about 16 foot craft with an open bow where I happened to be sitting. Beautiful weather, calm seas, no problem.

Try as we might, no fish. Well, none for Ian anyway. But then we decided to head back along the jetty where we encountered our first obstacle. It would seem that at the end of the rocks used to make the inlet calm, the water (no matter how calm) forms into a massive build of pounding water that likes to eat little boats like ours for breakfast. Ken (the "Captain") drove us into the only place within a mile that had waves - waves mind you in the 10ft category. They broke continually over our bow (where I was still sitting) and for some reason we couldn't break free. Again and again water came crashing down on top of us all, only to be replace by another, bigger wave. Adam and I are both yelling, "Turn Left!" knowing it will free us from the constant barrage. At one point right before we broke out I can remember envisioning how to dive off the bow into the water once we capsized.

Oh the joy of fishing! And still I didn't catch a single thing!



On a separate note we (the youth group) had a great time at our local Relay for Life! Even though the event got rained out that night, we were still able to raise a good amount of money making "Lemon-Shake-Ups," basically a homeshaked lemonaid, only better. We also had massages for sale! After all was said and done we sold over 250 of the cool, refreshing beverages.
It was a hot day. As you can see I was hard at work "supervising" the action. Gladly someone was kind enough to cool me down with an ice cube on my head. Thanks!
Finally, here's me and the pooch - Bingley. Who do you think is gonna win this match up?



(and for your own knowledge, no, dog spit does not taste good)

Cheers!

Shamless(ful) Plug

So here's a cool new thing my brother Paul showed me! It's Goodsearch.com

For every search you make the NPO of your choice gets $.01. It may not seem like much, but how many searches do you make a day? Anyway I thought I would let you in on it and suggest a charity that is worthwhile - HDSA - the Huntinton's Disease Society of America. Many of you may remember that my mother died of the disease. This is a wonderful, easy way to help put a stop to it's further progression!

Give it a try!

Thanks too!


CLICK ME!

Hair, Food, and Soccer

This week has been crazy-nuts!!
Emily was on her Spring Break and we took time together all week. Then the youth group had our 30 hour famine! It was awesome! We fasted for 30 hours to raise money for the hungry. 29,000 children die each day due to hunger! We also did a haircut auction where I and 3 youth auctioned off our noggins and subsequent hair! Mine went for the cheapest at $38, but one of our youth, Nick, raised $325 from his locks! Great job!

The day after the famine I took church off and went with Emily down to Tampa to see the US Men's National Team (soccer) play Ecuador in a 3-1 win for the good guys! Landon Donovan had a hat-trick for the US! It was awesome.

If you'd like to take a look at the pictures of the auction or the soccer match (along with some worship scenes) please check out my online photo album!


http://picasaweb.google.com/IPRoss

Floridian Outdoors

Bingley, Em and I on another journey to the beach!

We also went hiking at a little piece of land just S of us bordering the St. Johns River. It's pretty nice as far as parks/forests go in FL. A good 5 miler under our belt, we were pretty tired when we were done, but it was really nice. Here's Bing and Em at the start!
A view from a little look-out tower; didn't think it would be so pine-tree-foresty.
Bing and Em on top of the tower. Aren't they cute?
Almost there, Bing was getting tired. Time for a breather and some water and apples.

A few pics of our "child"

This weekend our baby boy - Bingley went to a big show down in West Palm Beach, FL. Emily and he did great! He got 2pts (15 pts are needed to be a champion) and got special recognition in the puppy class, where he was second in the group stage! Here he is getting ready for the show:

Don't forget to "Show" (his command for stacking). He's looking good. Don't you like our blue grooming table?
Here is the breeder (middle, from Holland) with Bingley's sister who won the group in the next day's puppy class!
Just to let you know that it's not all work, here's a pic of Bingley (left), BeeDee (on top), and Jewel (below), all litter-mates. We recently poled about our next puppy - http://forum.oes.org/viewtopic.php?t=12665 - and surprisingly having a child won (maybe they forgot we already have a boy?)

Top 3 Most Recent Spiritual Realizations

Ok...here goes.

1. We shouldn't be "good" because we are obligated to. It's not about obeying the law because if you don't you'll feel guilty - being "good" or acting Christ-like is a product of Jesus' sacrifice for us. Follow me: If someone, say a friend of yours, threw themselves in front of a bus to save your life and died in the process what would you do? Wouldn't you do everything you could to honor the memory and the sacrifice of that person? The same holds true for Jesus. He threw himself in front of a bus for us. Shouldn't we be trying to honor his memory and sacrifice?

2. Life. Faith. Fight. "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night"

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Dylan Thomas

3. A song I wrote. It's not done. It's from Psalm 147

In my strength have I sought after life's delights,
"if only these idiots would listen to me!"
Yet, I have not the strength
to change the one life I have power over, my own.
Oh to echo Paul's sentiment,
"Why do I do the things I do not wish to do?"

But in God will I find true strength,
to expose every one of my weaknesses.
He will make me strong, he will rebuild me,
with him as my footings, my foundations;
I will hope to put my hope in him,
then will I be held in honor.

Just some quick pics....

Just some quick pics to drop by you all! Know we're busy living and loving!

Ian

Devon, Ashely, Bingley, Emily oh my!

Emily's brother Devon and his girlfriend, Ashely came for a visit this past weekend. As always it was awesome to see him and a delight to meet her.


We also went to the beach whilst they were here and our crazy dog, Bingley, is always good for a crazy pic or 2...

Emily is beautiful!

We Love Our New Camera

Some more pictures from FL.

Just remember as you look at these that we want to be in the snow more than you want to be on the beach!!!!



Isn't our Dog Cute!

He has 2 shows in January. He won his classes and got reserve winners at his first show! We are proud of him and Emily!

Three Years

It was our 3rd anniversary this past week! To celebrate we took a drive up A1A, took a ferry accross the St. Johns River and then drove up to Big Talbot Island St. Park. The driftwood there is amazing. Perhaps I will make this a double post and put up some more pictures!