hello !

 if you found this it's probably because you received my letter (or you were randomly searching for blogs on blogger). Assuming most of you are here intentionally, greetings. You are here because I said I may continue my story here. And you received a letter because we know or knew one another at one point in time - and you had a meaningful place in my life- and maybe or maybe not vice-versa - whether you were a classmate, coach, relative, loved one, etc. I send an annual card and/or letter to TONS OF PEOPLE to say hello and also for the sake of encouragement  ! SO i was saying I hope all is well for you all. 

I mentioned in my introduction my annual mission trip across the USA- sometimes twice. It's always interesting. Evangelizing is the main point but I also make it a learning experience - finding new places I haven't seen across America. And there's ALWAYS new places. As many times as anybody's explored AMerica, nobody's "seen it all" including me. USA is SO BIG ! People from other countries don't realize it until they come here - and try to drive it. I met a family from the Netherlands in Jackson Hole a few years ago - they had rented an RV and were driving from somewhere east going west- final destination Seattle, and they were gobsmacked about the distances between cities . They were already exhausted from the road. Yes indeed. I've learned to pace myself so that it's not about the final destination but the journey along the way. 

One time in college a friend of mine from CA wanted me to ride with him from Michigan to CA for Xmas break. I agreed. I didn't know he wanted to make a speed record. He didn't want to stop and see anything, or take scenic backroads etc. I forget the time it took but it was fast. And boring. And meaningless for that matter.  I like getting off the interstate- so much more enjoyable - you don't feel like a cow in a herd when you're on backroads. Enjoy the trip. 

And tell the Good News ! By the way, last year I made a website showing the different "mission trips" I've taken- not just on the road across America but to other countries. You can browse it here if you're interested , or see https://missionmapping.blogspot.com/  . it's not totally complete, so keep checking back . And if you're a praying person, please pray for "seeds" I plant everywhere I go ! You may have heard of Johnny AppleSeeds. I consider myself "Johnny MustardSeed" based on the Great Commission combined with the mustard seed faith verse(s) . 

I must have been influenced by Robert Schuller & the Crystal Cathedral - an obvious factor in my life- given we moved to California because of Schuller- where my dad took a job as director of the pastoral care dept- until they experienced financial difficulties -and finally closed their doors. Nonetheless, despite a difficult ending- it was the good times that I remember - and of course Schuller was always about optimism and positive thinking. And the Mustard Seed passage likewise: " I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you." Matt 17. 

Prior to becoming involved at the Crystal Cathedral I also taught school as a regular teacher (in Coachella) & later as a substitute teacher for the LAUSD (quite the experiences) while completing my Masters-in-Divinity at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena CA. And at the same time starting my own ministry- originally called "Mustard Seed MInistries"- among other thigns- now mostly "AmeriPrayer" - and yes it was a formal ministry in the beginning (ie 501c3 ) but now we're about getting things done , not about infrastructure . We don't try to show off a fancy building to prove we are successful. That's old school. 

Prior to teaching I even tried law school for a little while but God gave me a definite message that this was a mistake. I moved on from Wayne State Law School in Detroit after a a short while and ended up in Costa Rica doing disaster relief after a major earthquake. For a short while I was associated with Christian Reformed World Missions (CRWM; no longer called that). THen back to school. A teaching degree. Some actual teaching, both Christian & public schools. Then to seminary, both Calvin & Fuller. Lots of travel time- around the world. 

Lola was with me for 14 years. My golden retriever. Great dog ! I got her as a tiny pup in Grand Rapids and she was with me thru Jackson Wyoming days and Coachella days and Fuller years - even to the top of Mount Whitney with me! She actually went blind for some unknown reason in her final days. But even while blind she was still a trooper, never quitting. She would follow me on a leash without being able to see. It was simultaneously incredible but so sad also. THis was a dog who loved to chase a ball endlessly never tiring. I finally had to let her go- and actually purchased a place to bury her where I could visit her forever- in Calabasas CA. 

Meanwhile I keep going myself- despite some chronic pain in my hip. Just finished filming the Rose parade for my 26th consecutive year. It's become a tradition. Among other things. And I keep swimming in the Pacific as much as possible- always "bareback" (ie without a wetsuit) despite it being relatively cold in the winter. very  "refreshing" . usually with a mask & snorkel. sometimes body surfing (i never actually became a regular surfer dude with a surfboard. I grew up on Lake Michigan where we never really surfed. although some try. and didn't transition to surfing when we moved to California in 1984. only body surfing- which is a real art & talent to do it right. most people don't do it right. they're mostly just splashing in the waves). 

I drove down from northern Cal to southern Cal leaving on December 20 - passing by Mavericks along the way- waves were building but not huge yet. Three days later, they say somebody may have surfed the biggest wave ever at 108 feet (not yet confirmed by Guiness) which would surpass the previous record of 80-feet in portugal . also a few days after I passed thru Santa Cruz, the same huge waves knocked part of their pier (wharf) down. 

in a few days I'll be leaving for a cross-country trip in the middle of the winter. Going the southern route is usally warm enough but now they're warning of a historic cold spell - hope it doesn't extend too far south. But I'll end up in Washington DC on January 20 if all things go well- and it can be quite cold there too sometimes.  

I hope all is well for you all. Lots more to talk about. I have to pause for a moment. Check back again ! God bless you !