Internet is very limited and expensive where we are. So just a quick post and photo.

Today was all Jerusalem and all Jesus all day.  Started at the Mount of Olives and ended at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. 

Some very powerful moments I look forward to unpacking soon.

Picture is us on the Mount of Olives. Background is Jerusalem.

Started the day at the mount of olives. Powerful.

Today marked the official start of our tour.  Great stuff.

First stop.  Beer’sheva.  Also known as Beer’sheba.  Home of Abraham.  10,000 year old ruins. 

Later in the day, the Desert of Zin.  Two hikes.  Both amazing.  The wilderness is the desert.   It is not a lush forest.  Quite the canyon.

5 minutes of total silence with tour group at the bottom of the canyon, near a broom bush, near a cave.  See 1 Kings 19 for parallel.

See other Facebook pics here.

We arrived yesterday. Tour starts tomorrow. Hearts and bellies are full, mind is ready to be filled.

Thankful for financial provision for the trip, great support for our family from friends (watching our son), and great ministry from our staff during my absence.

We received an amazing gift from God!

During the last 33 months God has gotten over $23,000 through my wife and I towards a $25,000 Faith Promise we felt God lead us to almost 3 years ago.  These funds were directed towards the building campaign of the church we pastor.

We could have used those funds elsewhere.  Our cars are 10 years old, but start every time, and keep us warm and cool when we desire. Our house's roof looks likes a teenage acne breakout, but still keeps us dry.

But we lack nothing.

I opened some mail on Wednesday and came across the picture attached.

Blown away.

Sarah and I have talked about going to Israel "sometime."  Last fall we had actually "window shopped" the very trip we are about to embark on. All the trip details here.

If God can get it through you, He can get it to you.

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he can never lose.

Highlights from our September 23, 2012 Dedication Day.

Here is a rough video of the offertory from the Dedication Service.

Remember, it is all about those following after us.

Click to enlarge photo

Thankful for all the support, great staff, encouragement, and hard work that went into a great day glorifying God yesterday.

With 158 chairs set up, the 9 am service was wonderfully full.  Approx 130 adults in attendance.

The 10:45 service had over 180 fill the new auditorium.  Chair problem!

Counting children’s church and nursery: just short of 420 people. Highest non-Easter attendance ever.

Then 28 were baptized at the City Pool later that day!

“Take my life and let it be, all for You and for Your glory.”

*blogging irregularly now, only for major events. Follow @PMarkLehman for regular updates.

My son has followed a bit in my footsteps by playing soccer. 

Having a September birthday, he also has experienced being the youngest player on many of his travel teams.

It has been a joy to watch him mature in this arena of his life.

Click to enlarge.

My wife does a great job of leading this annual event.

More than 50 ladies enjoyed a great meal, lots of fun, and a powerful message!

“I’ll take his hash browns!”

That was my response when eating with someone doing that crazy low carb diet thingy.  I knew I could never give up bread and carbs. 

Until I got a bad lab report from the doctor about 2-3 years ago.

With synergy from my wife, my diet changed, and so did my cholesterol and more importantly glucose levels.  The pounds eventually started to come off as a side effect.

If I can do that, I wonder, . . . can I still run a mile?

I hadn’t run a mile without stopping in well over 20+ years.

Over the past year, step by step, plodding along, I got to the place where I entered a true chip timed 5K race. 

27 minutes.  22 seconds.

When is the last time you did something for the first time?