Light Shines Best in the Darkness
This past week I led a sunset tour for two people who came to the canyon to see God’s amazing creation. This time of year is particularly fantastic, as we are in the middle of our monsoon season. During much of July and August, we have the best cloud formations over the canyon and near-daily afternoon rain showers which bring about the most stunning sunsets. While we were at Lipan Point (my favorite overlook on the South Rim), we watched as ever-advancing clouds covered the canyon below. As the
Blinded By My Sight
I recently performed a sunset tour with a family who came to visit the Grand Canyon. On their reservation, they made a note to let us know their young son was blind. When I saw the note I thought to myself, this could be interesting—even quite a fun challenge! Being a guide at the Grand Canyon, so much of what we do and teach is visual. There’s a lot of pointing to things and saying “Look at that!” In the 13 years I’ve been leading tours at the canyon,
Whatever My Lot
Horatio Spafford was a nineteenth-century lawyer and real estate investor in Chicago. He and his wife Anna passed their financial success on to thousands of people in need. Their incredible generosity was motivated by their love for Jesus and deep convictions of faith. God also blessed Horatio and Anna with 5 children (1 son and 4 daughters) whom they taught to love God and others with genuine hearts. In 1871, Horatio and Anna faced great heartache and loss. During that year, their four-year-old son was lost to scarlet fever
Be Still And Know
Most people are doers. We want tasks accomplished, problems solved, and goals achieved. Our independent and self-reliant minds look to dig in and get it done. In many instances, this is good and required. However, action without thought and clear direction can lead to more problems rather than solutions. As a younger lad, I often got myself into trouble due to a lack of thinking. I’d hop on my bike, strap down my skis, or start to climb before I took the time to consider what I was about
What I Learned about Grand Canyon in Israel
Nearly 7,500 miles separate Tusayan, AZ on the south rim of Grand Canyon and Timnaʿ National Park in southern Israel. What could anyone possibly find in Israel that might connect it with Grand Canyon? Timnaʿ sits in a desert landscape reminding travelers of some sections of the American Southwest — that is except for the clear differences in fauna and flora. As an example, instead of desert bighorn sheep found in Grand Canyon, Timnaʿ offers ibex. However, the landscapes of both regions display similar geological features. No, the Arabah
God Is Still On The Throne
The question of authority is at the root of much of what we are witnessing today. Who has the authority to determine value? Who has the authority to dispense justice? Who has the authority to dispense mercy? Many in America believe the individual is authorized to determine these things according to their own circumstances and experience. To them, authority and truth are relative and individual. They believe we determine these by our own volition. However, people have vastly different experiences and circumstances. Therefore, vastly different outcomes might be
The Fields Are Ripe
ALL people are created in the image of God! Jesus chose one of the most socially shunned people to be the first to identify Him as the Messiah! Jesus proclaimed a time of great chaos to be the occasion that the harvest was ready! In John 4 we read the account of Jesus and the woman at the well. Of the many lessons to learn from this event, there are 3 I ask you to consider. First: Jesus went out of His way to travel through Samaria for the specific purpose of meeting
The Fields Are Ripe
ALL people are created in the image of God! Jesus chose one of the most socially shunned people to be the first to identify Him as the Messiah! Jesus proclaimed a time of great chaos to be the occasion that the harvest was ready! In John 4 we read the account of Jesus and the woman at the well. Of the many lessons to learn from this event, there are 3 I ask you to consider. First: Jesus went out of His way to travel through Samaria for the specific purpose of meeting
Our Refuge and Strength
Struggle. We all face it. During this time of difficulty, we each have our own battles to face. No matter what comes our way, the beauty of struggle is we serve a Creator God who does not have to face the same struggles we do, yet has chosen to be a "very present help in time of need." God chooses to dwell in feeble human hearts. He desires to give us strength, endurance, and staying power. The picture above was taken on our last river trip of 2019 while
NEXT UP: Origins Are Foundational To Life
We live in a broken world. We see the evidence of it everywhere we look. There are many questions. What broke it? Can it be repaired? If it can, how? Why am I here? How did I get here? What is my purpose? What happens when my life is over? Is this all there is? Is there such a thing as truth? If there is, how can we know it? What is right and what is wrong? Who gets to decide what is right and wrong? These are the foundational