Is God Really Good?
YES!!! God is really GOOD! Now that we have that out in front of us, let's talk about it. God is most certainly good, but not because of the many reasons that His followers provide for the defense of His goodness. How would you complete this sentence? God is good because
The Sequence of Creation
Have you ever considered the sequence of creation as laid out in the Bible, compared to the evolutionary story? There are many differences. In fact, besides the timescale, it is a totally different order of events. Obviously they cannot both be true. Here is a list* of just a few differences: And the list goes on. So how do you reconcile the differences if you believe the evolution story and still believe the Bible to be the inerrant Word of God? In this old boatman’s opinion, you can’t! Peace, Tom Tom's prior
Neither Fear nor Arrogance
Travertine Grotto The Travertine Grotto is a beautiful oasis in the lower granite gorge of Grand Canyon. This waterfall tumbles approximately 35 feet into the back of the grotto formed by re-deposited calcium carbonate. Our time spent here is always a blessing to everybody. However, it takes a little effort to get there. The rock faces and the rope ladders can be exhilarating for some, but quite scary for others. One particular river runner was very intimidated and afraid of making an attempt to get up into the grotto.
Integrity and Skill: Remember and be Transformed
"With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand." Psalm 78:72 Psalm 78 is an emphatic proclamation of God's power and wonders and the necessity of remembering what He has done. Recalling the wonders of God leads us to a place of worship, surrender, and confidence in Him. Forgetting what God has done (or attributing His work to something else) leads to disobedience and rebellion. In verse 72 (above) Asaph states the nature of David's leadership. He expresses the heart and the ability of David. David
This Seat is Taken!
We had a fair amount of heat on my last river trip. In fact, it was down right hot. Finding shade on river right, just below Kanab Creek, was cause for much jubilation and raucous applause as we beached the boats to camp for the night. The camp was spacious and open to provide a good breeze and it set us up nicely for our playtime at Havasu Creek the next day. We enjoyed our conversation and Dr. Danny Faulkner of Answers in Genesis provided great views of the
Will They Know?
Deer Creek Falls The Grand Canyon is available to everybody. It is one of the most visited places in the world each year with nearly 5 million annual visitors. Everyone will know that you have been to Grand Canyon. You will have plenty of pictures and great stories to tell. There will be no doubt that you visited one of the 7 wonders of the world. Anybody can visit Grand Canyon and see rocks, water, animals, and people. What will set you apart from the masses? "When they saw the courage
Made New
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in him." (Lamentations 3:23) God is a restorer. He redefines what was into what it is and what it will be. He transforms, renews, and rebuilds. This often transpires through struggle. The caterpillar is made new through the struggle of the cocoon. There is no butterfly without the struggle. The global flood of
The Humble Survive
God has graciously given me the privilege of guiding people into the wilderness for the past 23 years. By His grace, I have been witness to incredible beauty and splendor. The simple life of the wilderness is pure and natural. It is unencumbered by the artificial complexities of life. "Wants" and "needs" are much more clearly defined and understood. Being responsible for myself and others in the far reaches of the wilderness has taught me many significant life principles. Perhaps none are more weighty than this one: The humble
Can You be Louder Than a Rock?
The weather is always a significant player when adventuring in the great outdoors. It is a rare moment indeed when the weather provides the "perfect" ingredients for comfort. Most often, it is a bit too cold, too hot, too wet, or too dry. Regardless, the weather is always a piece of the story we tell about our junket in the wild. This is certainly true of the most recent river trip through western Grand Canyon. Our gang of excited River Rats climbed aboard the helicopter at the Bar 10 Ranch and
3rd Rock From the Sun – Just Right
Dr. Danny Faulkner, of Answers in Genesis, wrote an article on January 1, 2014 discussing just a few of the wonders of the "just right" nature of the earth. Dr. Faulkner succinctly explains 3 important facts. 1. The earth is just the right distance from the sun (the habitable zone). The earth is perfectly positioned to be neither too hot nor too cold. We will neither burn nor freeze. Of course, we may need to do some convincing of that for people living in Phoenix, AZ and Siberia. 2. The Earth is